The downfall of Democracy?

[jonanthans]

Are we witnessing the downfall of Democracy?

Rarely have democracies survived beyond 200 years. Why do democracies fail? Two of the major reasons are: 1) democracies generally progress through an initial period from bondage to spiritual faith escalating to the point where the citizens become totally dependent on the government to where they eventually revert back to bondage, and 2) once the democracy shows signs of prosperity, citizens vote themselves generous bounties from the public treasury. Does this not sound familiar? Is democracy only a temporary and marred refuge until social engineers miraculously discover the ultimate solution?

Democracy, or the form used in the United States and most advanced countries, representative democracy or a republic, seems to be the best method social engineers have concocted to date to afford people an opportunity to have a voice in their government. The world continues to be overrun with dictatorships, socialist governments, a few communist governments, and Islamic theocracies. We can argue the merits of democracy versus the alternatives, but at this point in history, most authorities on the subject recognize that democracy has proven to be the best solution ever tried on the planet. The United States is not the first successful democracy in the world. Over 2,500 years ago, the people of Athens, Greece created a true democratic form of government that lasted for nearly 200 years but was eventually destroyed not by the people but by a military overthrow by a powerful neighbor. On the negative side, they kept slaves in much the same manner as in the days of our fledgling democracy. The most intriguing aspect of the Athenian democracy was that the people voted directly on every issue that affected their lives. Politicians, or so-called representatives of the people, did not exist.

In the late 1700s, a Scottish history professor, Alexander Tyler, studied the democracies that had existed until that time. He had this to say about democracy in general, “A democracy is always temporary in nature: it simple cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority will always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.”

Does this sound familiar? With almost one-third of all Americans feeding at the public trough, its only a matter of time before everyone receives some form of benefit and henceforth, the entire country will crash and burn with most likely a military dictatorship filling the void.

The professor went on to say: “The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith;

From spiritual faith to great courage;

From courage to liberty;

From liberty to abundance;

From abundance to complacency;

From complacency to apathy;

From apathy to dependence;

From dependency back into bondage.”

Does this not sound familiar! We’ve gone from being overtaxed slaves of King George of England, to a new republic that accepted any religious faith, to a wonderful new country with a brilliant constitution, to being the richest country in the world, to today over 50% of the voters are apathetic to politics, to where a major portion of Americans are literally demanding government benefits, to eventually losing all of our freedoms (just read some sections of the Patriot Act). Many people now believe that we are now at the “apathy to dependence” phase of the professor’s theory with over 30% of the nation’s population already having reached the “governmental dependency” phase.

Let us not forget that during the 2004 presidential election, the candidates collectively amassed a war chest of over $2 billion. We know that the individuals, carpetbaggers, organizations and corporations don’t make these donations out of the goodness in their hearts. That’s when we, the citizens, get to take it on the chin in the form of government contracts and special legislation/bills that are decreed to reward these people for their excessive contributions.

To ensure our survival, that’s the future for America – eliminate the politicians. Of course I’m advocating a radical concept but it’s time to think outside the box to save the country. With emerging technologies there is realistically no reason why within 10 to 20 years we cannot eliminate the obnoxious power of Congress and place the onus of responsibility back on the people where it belongs, by voting directly on every statewide or nationwide issue. Just watch what happens to taxes and the budget if the people are directly responsible for expenditures. Of course, the professional politicians will fight that prospect with lies and every dirty trick in the book but the American people can prevail.

[erniebanks]

Step one:
"Distribute the wealth" BHO
Step two:
" I will appoint judges that do not hold to the letter of the constitution." BHO

[iacas]

With emerging technologies there is realistically no reason why within 10 to 20 years we cannot eliminate the obnoxious power of Congress and place the onus of responsibility back on the people where it belongs, by voting directly on every statewide or nationwide issue.

Don't you think that in such a case everyone would just vote for what's best for them, regardless of what's best for society as a whole? That'd get us real far.

And I personally wouldn't call the U.S. a Democracy. It's more a Republic as I understand and define the terms.

[Chilli Dipper]

Please, quit your whining. Life will go on if Obama becomes president.

[jonanthans]

Don't you think that in such a case everyone would just vote for what's best for them, regardless of what's best for society as a whole? That'd get us real far.

As opposed to what, the way we are killing it now? If the path we are on now leads to complete failure, we cannot simply continue on with the status quo.

[jonanthans]

Please, quit your whining. Life will go on if Obama becomes president.

And that was directed to whom?

[jonanthans]

And I personally wouldn't call the U.S. a Democracy. It's more a Republic as I understand and define the terms.

democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."

[Chilli Dipper]

And that was directed to whom?

People making doomsday prophecies for the future of the free world that are obviously reactionary to the likely outcome of Tuesday's election.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bush in the 2000 election, Democrats whined. When they suffered losses in the 2002 midterm elections, Democrats whined. When Bush was re-elected in 2004, Democrats whined, but soon came to the conclusion that whining wasn't going to get them anywhere. Instead, they reorganized their base from the ground up, recruited intriguing candidates for public office, and presented voters with an alternative that was more than complaining about the status quo. For this, Democrats are poised to take over the White House and strengthen their majority in Congress. And how exactly are most Republicans reacting? By whining. And they wonder why they're losing.

[jonanthans]

People making doomsday prophecies for the future of the free world that are obviously reactionary to the likely outcome of Tuesday's election.

Thats the problem with people who have a horse in the race, anytime someone post a thought they automatically think you are attacking their candidate. Show me where I attacked Obama in that post. I was talking about the situation, not just both of these candidates but every politician for the past 5 elections. I am not a Republican or a Democrat, I think they are both unworthy of holding the position. The whining seems to be coming from both sides, so dont feel special. Whichever candidate gets elected will simply attach the puppet strings to their shoulders and continue the dance.

[st0wgolf08]

Don't you think that in such a case everyone would just vote for what's best for them, regardless of what's best for society as a whole? That'd get us real far.

Correct, most people call it a republic of democracy is what I've heard at a couple places. I also agree in the need for an electoral college and a congress. If that were the case, they would get all the poor people to vote democrats on everything, and it would be over. These people would just want what is best for them, not for the country.

[Chilli Dipper]

Thats the problem with people who have a horse in the race, anytime someone post a thought they automatically think you are attacking their candidate. Show me where I attacked Obama in that post. I was talking about the situation, not just both of these candidates but every politician for the past 5 elections. I am not a Republican or a Democrat, I think they are both unworthy of holding the position. The whining seems to be coming from both sides, so dont feel special. Whichever candidate gets elected will simply attach the puppet strings to their shoulders and continue the dance.

Regardless of your political affiliation, you're still whining. If you think there is a better way for this country, find people who agree with your point of view, organize, and work towards a solution. Don't just say that America is doomed. (And call me skeptical, I find it very hard to believe that you would have started this thread if McCain was leading in the polls.)

[shredfit]

This tends to raise some eyebrows...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...80303867390173

[Chilli Dipper]

This tends to raise some eyebrows...

The biggest hindrance to the advancement of libertarianism in mainstream American politics are Libertarians: a perfectly reasonable (but by no means ideal) political philosophy has the misfortune of having complete nutcases as its most vocal supporters. This country doesn't respond well to radicals, and the Libertarian Party has more than its fair share of them.

[iacas]

I think jonanthans is just trying to provoke people at this point. I refuse to be baited. Sorry.

[Chilli Dipper]

I think jonanthans is just trying to provoke people at this point. I refuse to be baited. Sorry.

I should probably follow suit, but I have a conviction for debunking blind ignorance that is sometimes difficult to overcome.

[shredfit]

The biggest hindrance to the advancement of libertarianism in mainstream American politics are Libertarians: a perfectly reasonable (but by no means ideal) political philosophy has the misfortune of having complete nutcases as its most vocal supporters. This country doesn't respond well to radicals, and the Libertarian Party has more than its fair share of them.

Nice! A political catch phrase (libertarianism).

I however, prefer Constitutionalism... or lack there of... nutcases aside.

[jonanthans]

I think jonanthans is just trying to provoke people at this point. I refuse to be baited. Sorry.

Where am I trying to provoke anyone? I simply made a freaking post, am I not entitled to my opinion? If you dont agree, dont post, simple as that.

[pjsnyc]

Honestly, I think your post was fun to read...though you left out one VERY important difference in today's world versus that of the Athenians (or even early American democracy) - and that is the effect of globalization in the information age. I'd be interested to hear your revised essay with that in mind.