In your opinion, what is democracy and what does it look like?

Question

And, how does it operate?

be as detailed as you can. I'm looking for thoughtful answers.

Answer 1

Any form of government where the ultimate power of control belongs to the people; with a Constitution that defines the scope and powers of the government.

There are free elections in a democracy in which any person, rich or poor, regardless of race and sex, has the absolute right to vote in elections as well as run for office

In a democracy there is legal equality before the law, regardless of race, sex, or income bracket.

Power is not bottle-necked at the top of the income strata in a democracy. In a healthy democracy the power flows from the people for all of the people, not just the financial elites.

In a properly functioning democracy new political parties and independent movements, including active dissent, are not shredded by political razor wire designed to protect the status quo. In a healthy democracy new parties and ideas are welcomed to keep the democratic process flourishing, contemporary and relevant.

The media uses the airwaves to keep the citizens informed (not spun) in a democracy. An astute, educated citizenry is prerequisite to maintain the democracy.

The school systems teach critical thinking (not consumerism) in a democracy. An educated citizenry is prerequisite to maintain the democracy.

The concept of democracy was taken-up by our Founding Fathers from their knowledge of and experiences with the democracies of the Native Americans

However, the United States of America in 2007 is a corporate propaganda oiled Oligarchy

Answer 2

Just wanted to add an interesting tidbit here: The Greeks originally developed a political system called an isocracy. Under that system, each person had an equal vote on each issue. They elected representatives, but they put all bills before the people.
Of course, the landowners and elitists worried about mob rule, as alluded to by regerugged. They also objected to serfs and women voting, since isocracy was egalitarian by its nature.
Democracy was a compromise, a republican system with qualifiers to vote. Basically, you had to be a free man who could read and write. 3000 years ago, very few people could read and write.
Of course, the Greeks were a little bit loopy sometimes. They also supported classifying females as community property. Each woman would be a wife (servant) to all men in the community. It didn't materialize, and many of these men were forced to sleep on the sofa for awhile.
I think California has shown strong tendencies toward a more democratic process. If their elected representatives are not making a popular change, it's put to the people by referendum. They've also recalled a governor.
Problems with our system are painful. The wealthiest 0.2% of our population controls the two parties, dictates an expensive electoral process which deters the formation of more parties, controls most of the media, and owns the banks. The candidates for whom we vote are preapproved by the parties. The most important reforms are therefore ignored by the govt., since they're opposed by the elite.

Answer 3

In the US, our democracy is governed by our US Constitution. We have separation of powers, and we do not have direct democracy.

We get a vote for the Executive office. The Executive appoints the Supreme Court for life, and is the Executive's most powerful power, in my opinion.

We get a vote for the Congress-people from our States. And they are our voice in Washington. The power of the people is in Congress.

We also have our power in our States, which have all rights not otherwise reserved to the Federal government.

We have free speech and other freedoms to protect us from their corruption.

In other places, democracy looks different. It is up to them to decide what their democracy looks like.

Answer 4

Pure democracy is total chaos. The people in a society would have a direct vote on how the society or country is run. There are no laws, because the people always get to decide what to do.
Imagine this: on Monday morning, the majority of the people agree to drive on the right side of the road. On Tuesday morning, the majority of people decide to drive on the left side of the road.

Answer 5

It should be a fair system of elections in which the people vote for representatives who will do as they are suppose to and work for the people who voted them in office and not those who offer them and their families and friends the best Jobs and biggest donations .

Answer 6

depends on whose in charge china is a dmocracy and so is india u see the difference

Answer 7

the United States unless you're a liberal...I guess that you will have to get along with us conservatives

Answer 8

it is the big moloch and it wants to eat you all up.
democracy did not come from god.