Is Democracy The Equivalent Of A National Popularity Contest?

Answer 1

Yes, of course..... and unfortunately popularity does not have as high a correlation with good quality and consistency as it has with showmanship and flamboyance.

Answer 2

Yes, democracy is a popularity contest, which is why our American founders were so dead set against it. Starting with Thomas Jefferson the original guards against democracy have been slowly destroyed until now we are almost a democracy rather than a republic. Fortunately some of the checks still remain, but we've been sliding towards democracy for a long time, and once we finally succumb and abandon our republic we'll be back in the cycle just like everybody else. I tend to favor Machiavelli's cycle over that of Plato and Aristotle simply because it gives a fuller picture of that cycle. In case you aren't familiar with it here's an extremely simplified version:

Democracy decays to Anarchy
Anarchy is repaired by Monarchy
Monarchy decays to Despotism
Despotism is repaired by Timocracy
Timocracy decays to Aristocracy
Aristocracy decays to Oligarchy
Oligarchy is repaired by Democracy

And so the cycle begins again.

The whole concept of a republic is that it includes all the better parts of these stages into a single government. In the case of America (originally), the Presidency is Monarchy, the Senate Aristocracy, the House Democracy, the Judiciary Timocracy. Then power is devolved further among the states so that none of these branches can concentrate too much power. Now, however, the Senate is also democratic, and the Judiciary has become oligarchic. The presidency is almost democratic too, though not quite. Fortunately Washington created a backup Timocracy with the Order of Cincinnatus, and while barely anybody has even heard of it, our military traditions have saved us from a military coup, though no doubt once we hit anarchy it'll be a military man who becomes Imperator. He'll probably be a great man, and will do everything he can to be another Cincinnatus, but instead he'll probably be a Claudius and end up consolidating power instead of restoring the republic.

Personally I'd rather see the republic survive, and democracy be damned, but in the confusion that is so ably abetted by our school system, it doesn't seem likely over the long term, alas.

Answer 3

It seems nowadays you could equate democracy as the equivalent to a national popularity contest. It is really hard to win if you are not popular. In the Philippines, political advertisements is very popular during election times. It is a very power tool to win a seat whether it is for president, vice president, senator, or congressman. Indeed, politicians draw their money in such an advertisement since it reaches almost everyone in the different islands of our country. The more advertisement slot time you have, the better you become popular. However, this is not a guarantee to win for people had their political maturity unlike before.

Manny Pacquiao, the great boxer of the Philippines runs a seat in the Lower Congress last concluded election this year but lost. He is indeed popular but not a guarantee to win a bout with his polical rival, a women lawyer. Pacquiao indeed conceded with the latter. However, democracy is no doubt a national popularity question. I definitely subscribed with you.

Thanks for asking. Have a great day!

Answer 4

Yes, isn't that the meaning of democracy? A democracy means that we are governed by the people; rule of the majority. In today's society, our government is chosen by our votes through an election process. So in essence, yes, our government is chosen through a national popularity contest.

Aloha! =0)

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Answer 5

Absolute democracy is, and it is the will of the politically strong over the weak. That is why our Constitution created a "democratic republic." A republic is represented by -- in our case-- Senators and Congressmen, city council members, etc. Their purpose is to protect the weak without giving away what also belongs to the strong. They do not always act this way, but that is the meaning of the "Original Intent."

Answer 6

True democracy has nothing to do with ones popularity. Unfortunately, it has been twisted into this by out current administration.