The USA is the only Democratic Country in the World. Discuss.

[Clear Skies]

Originally posted by Roland


I think the proper analogy would be: "If a government in Britain were to win only a small majority of constituencies by winning the rotten boroughs through judicial fiat.... "

Well, the principle is the same I never said the British system was perfect - it has so many holes even Railtrack could drive a train through it.

[Saint Marcus]

The USA is the only Democratic Country in the World. Discuss.

That's why a man can be elected as President while getting less votes than his adversary.

Some democracy I say.

[Sava]

THE US IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANY MORE THAN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IS A REPUBLIC.

The US is a Corporate-funded-Republic with a strong federal government. In a Democracy, the people vote on everything.

[Tolls]

This is quite funny...
This bit isn't quite right:

"This one body is the end all and be all of British politics. Sure the MPs are elected by the people, but what if the majority decides to oppress the minority (it has been known to happen) then only a majority in Parliment is needed to make that happen. There are no proceedural safe-guards to stop it. "

We have the Lords...the Law Lords...the High Court...all of whom are able to force the government to look again, and overturn silly legislation that is contrary to existing law, or our constitution. In fact if they did something really silly then there's always the monarch, though it would have to be something pretty extreme to get her involved.

Indeed within the Commons there are the Committees that scrutinise legislation that do a reasonable job of ripping apart dodgy bills, after all it's the one area MPs get a chance to shine without too much interference from their party.

[Clear Skies]

Hear hear.

[Roland]

"I never said the British system was perfect..."

Well actually, I was more referring to early 19th century Britain....

[Clear Skies]

There are still some bloody rotten boroughs 18 years of Tory gerrymandering didn't help either.

[Stefu]

Dare I say 'Kennedy' as well

Well, not forgetting such quaint stuff as royals and House of Lords Brits have had politicking families as well - consider Pitt the Older and Pitt the Younger (Not to forget Pitt the Even Younger and Pitt the Glint In The Milkman's Eye )

And dare I say you might not even have reached bottom of the Pitt yet

[Dry]

Originally posted by Tom201
Switzerland is the only true democracy, there ppl. can vote on issues themselves, ...

That's also what I thought until some Swiss explained me that for some votations they need 2 majorities: the # votes majority AND the canton majority (don't ask me how it works).
When it is about to change something (like joining the EU), even if 60% of the voters agree, the fact that some small (usually rural and conservative) canton did not agree, makes the change fail.
This lead to some very conservative behaviour, sometimes against the will of the pure majority.
Kind of redneck dictatorship.

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
That's why a man can be elected as President while getting less votes than his adversary.

This is the case in all democracies I know. There has always been an over-representation of the small provinces/districts in all parliements I know.
I think it is the Gl de Gaule who has the 'best score' at this kind of game.
Have just one look at the current European parliament. Small countries have relatively more deputies than big countries.
A Luxemburger european citizen has much more power than a German one.
If, when the europeans deputies vote, you compute how many electors each of them really represents, you would easily find hundreds of cases where in facts, a minority has decide against the majority.

[Provost Harrison]

I think the Pitt dynasty ended quite a while ago

[- Groucho -]

Originally posted by Ned
Idiot.

Ooooh. Good one. Your witty repartee has defeated me. [clutches chest from imaginary shot and falls to floor]

You should break out a thesaurus, though. Idiot is overused these days, what with a certain resident of the White House being in the news so much. Try "moron", "cretin" or even "fool". I'm sure you will win so many more arguments with those arrows added to your quiver.

[Ned]

Originally posted by MikeH
I can't be bothered to read the thread but any country where the Presidency is decided by judges appointed by previous political leaders is completely undemocratic. Especially if the only reason it was close is because the President's brother has rigged the election in his own state by banning huge numbers of eligible voters from voting.

After the latest election the idea of American democracy is a total joke to everyone outside the US and most inside I guess.

Bull**** crap.

[MikeH]

Did the supreme court decide the election?
Yes
Is that democratic?
No.

CASE CLOSED!

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by MikeH
Did the supreme court decide the election?
Yes

No, they didn't.

CASE CLOSED!

Have you given Ming his royalty check yet?

[MikeH]

He can sue me for it.