Democracy

[Hope]

Over the years, people here and elsewhere have been told that we live in a democracy and that we have to respect whatever that democracy decides to do at any given time. 

The last few days have shown how hollow that can be, as we have had staunch supporters of democracy questioning the benefits of the result of the EU referendum.

Clearly we have all now got to make everything work, but I hope that folk here realise how some others have felt about some of the directions consecutive Governments have chosen to take this country in, over the years.

[Sriram]

I have read many years ago that society moves like a pendulum.

First there is a condition- (-A) ...,then it changes into a condition that is opposite of the first-  (+A)..., a little later, the third condition arises which will be a product of the earlier two - (-A Squared).  This is similar to the first condition (-sign) but of a higher order because it contains elements of the second condition. 

So....nothing ever goes away entirely. It just morphs into a 'old wine in a new bottle' situation.  Evolution...for you! 

[Hope]

An interesting comment, Sri, but I'm not quite sure how it fits the situation. This isn't a case of a situation where we can bounce between options - in fact very few cases in which new legislation is passed allow for bouncing between the basic stances available.

[Gordon]

That a decision has been made democratically via agreed processes doesn't mean it can't be challenged, amended or rescinded provided this is done using other agreed democratic processes.

 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

That a decision has been made democratically via agreed processes doesn't mean it can't be challenged, amended or rescinded provided this is done using other agreed democratic processes.

spot on.

[jeremyp]

Over the years, people here and elsewhere have been told that we live in a democracy and that we have to respect whatever that democracy decides to do at any given time. 

Actually we live in a representational democracy in which we vote for the people who make the decisions not on the decisions directly. There's good reason for that: the population is generally not properly informed and subject to wild prejudice. If the country was run as a true democracy, we would have no taxes and a mandate for great hospitals and schools at the same time.

The last few days have shown how hollow that can be, as we have had staunch supporters of democracy questioning the benefits of the result of the EU referendum.

You can't have a democracy (true or representational) without discussion of the rights and wrongs of the issues of the day. People complaining that the referendum result was wrong is not anti-democratic, it is the sign of healthy democracy.

Clearly we have all now got to make everything work, but I hope that folk here realise how some others have felt about some of the directions consecutive Governments have chosen to take this country in, over the years.

If I get your implication correct, i.e. the Leave vote was, in part, a protest vote against "consecutive governments", then it is a good demonstration of why representational democracy works better than direct democracy.

[Hope]

You can't have a democracy (true or representational) without discussion of the rights and wrongs of the issues of the day. People complaining that the referendum result was wrong is not anti-democratic, it is the sign of healthy democracy.

I quite agree, but it is interesting that debate on other 'issues of the day' have often been discouraged here.

If I get your implication correct, i.e. the Leave vote was, in part, a protest vote against "consecutive governments", then it is a good demonstration of why representational democracy works better than direct democracy.

At the time of writing, that wasn't my implication as I was speaking on a far broader canvas.  However, it did crop up in a discussion at work during the morning.

[Hope]

That a decision has been made democratically via agreed processes doesn't mean it can't be challenged, amended or rescinded provided this is done using other agreed democratic processes.

Yet, there have been attempts to stop, or at least discourage, discussion on some democratically-made decisions here and elsewhere.

[Gordon]

Yet, there have been attempts to stop, or at least discourage, discussion on some democratically-made decisions here and elsewhere.

So what, although I don't know what in particular you're referring to. If democratic steps are available then they are an option no matter who this annoys where their annoyance shouldn't restrict access to these steps.

That some may get pissed off when others take legal contrary action is just tough!

[Brownie]

You're right, if an opinion is strongly felt they can go on plugging it regardless of anyone else's.  That does happen on here  .  It may not get anywhere but respect to those who stand alone and stick to their guns!  Metaphorically speaking of course, I don't believe in owning guns.  If nothing else, posting on here hones up debating skills and shows up those who do nothing but shout down dissenters. 

[Bubbles]

They can go on plugging it, but there is a risk that people may feel it's a form of bullying and go and vote for the opposite because they are fed up with it.

[ekim]

Here's some alternatives to democracy.
Autocracy            Power resides in the hands of one single person.
Kratocracy    Rule by the strong;
Plutocracy            Rule by the wealthy;
Geniocracy    Rule by the intelligent;
Meritocracy    Rule by the meritorious;
Technocracy    Rule by the educated and/or technical experts;
Timocracy            Rule by the honourable;
Bankocracy    Rule by banks;
Corporatocracy  Rule by corporations;
Nepotocracy    Rule by nephews;
Kakistocracy    Rule by the stupid;
Kleptocracy    Rule by thieves;
Ochlocracy    Rule by the general populace; mob rule
Ergatocracy    Rule by the proletariat,
Netocracy            Rule by social connections;
Stratocracy    Rule by military;
Theocracy            Rule by a religious elite;
Pornocracy           Rule by prostitutes

[jeremyp]

I quite agree, but it is interesting that debate on other 'issues of the day' have often been discouraged here.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Can you give examples?

[splashscuba]

Yet, there have been attempts to stop, or at least discourage, discussion on some democratically-made decisions here and elsewhere.

This forum isn't a democracy, it's a benevolent dictatorship. The creator chooses to let it's members to run it as they see fit within a framework of rules, also decided mostly by members.

If someone tells you to f*** o** you are free to choose to either do that, reply back in kind or complain to mods. The mods are our representatives who police the governing framework.

There are plenty of other forums to go to if a person decides they don't like it here.

As to our democracy (i.e. the UK), what jeremyp said