Is the American democracy a myth?

[Norseman]

#4 and #5.

 

[Doctrine1st]

American is a Democratically elected Republic.

Except those elected to represent the body of citizenry actually represent a small segment of a oligarchy, to which the oligarchy selects those who are to be democratically elected, and thus we have a perpetual system of the elected Republic benefiting the oligarchy, where once in awhile through policy, the dogs (the voting citizenry) are able eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table.

 

[StromRider]

But the voters didn't buy it. Big money lost.

Big money lost? What election are you talking about? The one where oil, pharmaceutical and other large corporations poured money into the republican coffers so shrubco would gut environmental legislation and come up with the horrible medicare drug proposal that will keep drug companies rolling in the money?

Both parties are beholding to big money, the repubs more so than the dems.

And it is a shame that one needs to be rich to try to attain higher office in the US. No wonder politicians don't care about the little people.

 

[MJ421]

If democracy is choosing between the lesser of two evils, having people in office who are more concerned with their power and petty politics than the good of the the country or the people, while the government wages war on it's own people, then yea, we're doing juuuust fine.

 

[jayem]

Bush won by 3 million votes (2% fyi).

In a way, the election was much closer than that. Bush won by 110,000 votes in Ohio. If he had lost Ohio, the electoral votes would have been 272 for Kerry, 266 for Bush.

Getting rid of the archaic electoral college would certainly be a pro-democracy move. It's ridiculous when small vote changes in a single state can change the outcome of a nationwide election.

 

[MethodMan]

In a way, the election was much closer than that. Bush won by 110,000 votes in Ohio. If he had lost Ohio, the electoral votes would have been 272 for Kerry, 266 for Bush.

But Kerry's margin or victory in Pennsylvania wasn't much more.

Getting rid of the archaic electoral college would certainly be a pro-democracy move. It's ridiculous when small vote changes in a single state can change the outcome of a nationwide election.

Ahh - But it is up to the states on how each state's votes are used.

 

[Scholar in training]

Getting rid of the archaic electoral college would certainly be a pro-democracy move. It's ridiculous when small vote changes in a single state can change the outcome of a nationwide election.

Remove the electoral college and all you have is the popular vote. That's mob rule, not at all fitting for a democratic republic.

 

[MethodMan]

Remove the electoral college and all you have is the popular vote. That's mob rule, not at all fitting for a democratic republic.

And Bush would have won anyway.

 

[Matthew777]

And Bush would have won anyway.

Remove that voter fraud and then Kerry would have won.

Peace.

 

[ballfan]

America is a Democratically elected Republic.

Its not perfect and won't ever be but its the best thing going.

 

[UberLutheran]

Where is option for People's Democratic Republic?
[/bad Russian accent]

My qvestshun: ver are Moose and Sqvirrel?

 

[PACKY]

If it wasnt a Democracy you wouldnt be able to keeo posting polls. LOL

 

[Verv]

I cannot even begin to understand how people think our society is void of democracy or that it is in a 'shameful state.'

We are exercising free dialogue and have far less corruption than other nations.

Weekly, I hear about the Korean government being corrupt and riddled with past Japanese collaborators, past Communist sympathizers, someone who served in the Japanese Air Force or someone who is remotely associated with a gangster or took bribes from another gangster.

European democracies rewrite their Constitutions and governments almost every decade; there is tremendous controversy in the recent German elections and the doings of Schroeder, there is so much controversy about the assassination of Pim Fortuyn in Holland and the uprising and political turmoil of a French nation with characters like Le Pen; Italy's Silvio Burlesconi is always in the limelight for being a media mogul that has potentially abused his positions to win elections, being an uncaring and undemocratic leader; Spain is riddled with an ineffective government, flip flopping and being incapable of taking resolute stances...

Literally, you can go on for days talking about the shortcomings of each democracy around the world and how it becomes unrepresentative or corrupt.

On a relative basis, we are doing better than most European nations, let alone non-European, non-G8 states.

You have unrealistic expectations if you think otherwise.

 

[Crusader05]

I cannot even begin to understand how people think our society is void of democracy or that it is in a 'shameful state.'

We are exercising free dialogue and have far less corruption than other nations.

Weekly, I hear about the Korean government being corrupt and riddled with past Japanese collaborators, past Communist sympathizers, someone who served in the Japanese Air Force or someone who is remotely associated with a gangster or took bribes from another gangster.

European democracies rewrite their Constitutions and governments almost every decade; there is tremendous controversy in the recent German elections and the doings of Schroeder, there is so much controversy about the assassination of Pim Fortuyn in Holland and the uprising and political turmoil of a French nation with characters like Le Pen; Italy's Silvio Burlesconi is always in the limelight for being a media mogul that has potentially abused his positions to win elections, being an uncaring and undemocratic leader; Spain is riddled with an ineffective government, flip flopping and being incapable of taking resolute stances...

Literally, you can go on for days talking about the shortcomings of each democracy around the world and how it becomes unrepresentative or corrupt.

On a relative basis, we are doing better than most European nations, let alone non-European, non-G8 states.

You have unrealistic expectations if you think otherwise.

America is a great nation and we have a strong and proud tradition of freedom and democracy. BUT we can always do better. Just because we are better than all those other nations should never give us an excuse to sit on our laurels. We need to progress, we need to do better.

 

[OhhJim]

But the voters didn't buy it. Big money lost.

President Ross Perot and California Governor Huffington called to say you are correct. An election cannot be bought simply by spending lots of money. Not in America or California. Maybe in Texas!

If you compare the voter turnout today with the percentages from, say, 1800, when only land-owning white males could vote, I would bet that today's numbers look really good.

 

[MethodMan]

Remove that voter fraud and then Kerry would have won.

Peace.

You mean the DNC invading PA state prisons trolling for votes from people not registered? Sure!

 

[pantsman52]

You mean the DNC invading PA state prisons trolling for votes from people not registered? Sure!

You mean like the Republicans telephoning thousands of registered black voters saying that they will challenge their voter registration?

 

[MethodMan]

You mean like the Republicans telephoning thousands of registered black voters saying that they will challenge their voter registration?

Any proof?

 

[pantsman52]

Any proof?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7422-2004Oct28.html?nav=rss_politics/elections/2004

 

[MethodMan]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7422-2004Oct28.html?nav=rss_politics/elections/2004

Nothing there.