Democracy is cool and all, but...

[cupoftea]

Should all people really be allowed to vote? The obvious answer should be yes, since there's a freedom to vote , which is human right (I think), but come on. The average citizen knows as good as nothing about politics, and mostly just what the media mouthfeeds him (me included, I know nothing of politics before someone rages at me). The lack of education about the different politcal parties and what they all stand for, isn't that a danger for society, or for the state?

[Caelifer_1991]

So long as the voters aren't involved in referendums that directly dicate their future, they don't really need to know much about the system, only their own needs and wants, and who to vote for in order to attain that. The problem arises when people know so little as to not even know who to vote for to get those needs and wants... the mass of republican supporters among the American poor come to mind. That usually arises as a result of poor state education and of propaganda (either state or corporate), as is the case in the US.

[Sphere]

How do you convince people they should be subject to the laws and taxes of a government which they are not represented in?

[Claudius Gothicus]

How do you convince people they should be subject to the laws and taxes of a government which they are not represented in?

A hundred times this... most Political Theory is based on the idea that a State(as an Interconnected Institutional Network who aims at keeping the Monopoly on Legitimate Force) can't really apply it's ends, it's objectives and as a result function in any way properly or efficiently if there's a systematic lack of Legitimacy to make these actions ''acceptable''.

Not only we are talking about a Liberal Democracy that's based on ''the popular will'', interceded by said will's representatives, but we are talking about complex societies where conflict, dysfunctions and political changes have to be solved in a way that can't really leave out a significant part of the population(we are talking millions) if the State aims to keep things under control and well run. Disenfranchised citizens are easily deluded into following competing subgroups who aim at overthrowing the State(usually with less than democratic aims).

[Diamat]

A hundred times this... most Political Theory is based on the idea that a State(as an Interconnected Institutional Network who aims at keeping the Monopoly on Legitimate Force) can't really apply it's ends, it's objectives and as a result function in any way properly or efficiently if there's a systematic lack of Legitimacy to make these actions ''acceptable''.

Not only we are talking about a Liberal Democracy that's based on ''the popular will'', interceded by said will's representatives, but we are talking about complex societies where conflict, dysfunctions and political changes have to be solved in a way that can't really leave out a significant part of the population(we are talking millions) if the State aims to keep things under control and well run. Disenfranchised citizens are easily deluded into following competing subgroups who aim at overthrowing the State(usually with less than democratic aims).

Yes, and add to this the anti-intellectualism so prevalent in countries such as the USA. It would defy the values one was raised to take as natural, the values which are at the core of the state's legitimacy. If the state were to ignore those values instead of appealing to them, it would result in political suicide.

[barbarossa pasha]

Human rights are whatever people decide to conceptualize, demand, and which the courts accept, as a fundamental and equally applicable right.

Knowing about politics is not relevant to an election. Learning about the candidates is an irrational waste of time. The point of an election is to legitimize the formation of a government through the popular will, this is the basis of popular sovereignty that is a cornerstone of most modern democracies. If people are excluded from the vote then how does the state justify its authority over them? Most people are socialized into their political views and do not base their vote on any attempt at an objective evaluation of candidates and their platforms.

[xcorps]

The motivations, education, knowledge, or capability of the voter are not the metric of a free society. The simple right to have to option to make your voice heard by government is the metric. To deny this is to deny that man as an individual has any value.

[Celsius]

there will always bee stupid people participating in government (either voting or running). It's just society, and you can't change society.

[Holger Danske]

there will always bee stupid people participating in government (either voting or running). It's just society, and you can't change society.

Well... you can actually, but you can never eliminate stupidity...

[truth1337]

Dogs are people too, why shouldn't we give them the right to vote too? All they need to do is put their paw on one of two levers. They may not know that much about politics, but they can choose the candidate who looks the most sincere.

[alexanderswift]

Dogs are people too

You lost me at that bit.

[mishkin]

Dogs are people too

Epic.

I think there should be a more participatory democracy, and citizens should be encouraged (even by politicians) to participate more and be more informed.

[truth1337]

Have you ever heard of irony? It's somewhat like coppery, but with iron.

[mishkin]

Have you ever heard of irony? It's somewhat like coppery, but with iron.

So all your posts have been just a joke?
You should simply express your ideas clearly. Fearless.

[mishkin]

You should simply express your ideas clearly. Fearless.

And what about this^

[Col. Tartleton]

The real solution is to make government idiot proof. That way no matter who gets elected within reason nothing bad will happen.

[Ussaid the Hashshashin]

The simple answer is;
KICK OUT DEMOCRACY BECAUSE IT SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mishkin]

Yes man, give us a good dictator.
Everything is better when you are subjugated to the stupidity of a retrograde bastard.

[Boyar Son]

Yes man, give us a good dictator.
Everything is better when you are subjugated to the stupidity of a retrograde bastard.

That or be subjugated by the stupidity of the masses.

Greatest argument against democracy is a talk with the average voter etc. etc.

Men do not desire freedom, merely a fair and just ruler etc. etc.

But I'm not here to offer a solution to anything, I just wanted to make democracy look bad...

[mishkin]

Greatest argument against democracy is a talk with the average voter etc. etc.

And of course, we are not the average voter, we are sooooo superiors (sarcasm).