How democratic is America?

[Kidlicious]

“I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” - Gideon (8:23)

[kentonio]

“I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” - Gideon (8:23)

Good thing we're all terrible heathens nowadays.

[Kidlicious]

Good thing we're all terrible heathens nowadays.

As long as you're willing for foot the bill, it doesn't bother me.

[DinoDoc]

The two cases beofre the Court right now would seem to suggest that the answer to the question of how democratic America is, is not very. Given the fact that we seem more inclined to trust unelected people in robes to make these decisions over the people and their representatives.

[The Mad Monk]

Reasons to keep British Monarchy:

1. Tradition
2. Symbol of unity
3. National image abroad
4. Tourism
5. Nuclear failsafe

[MrFun]

The two cases beofre the Court right now would seem to suggest that the answer to the question of how democratic America is, is not very. Given the fact that we seem more inclined to trust unelected people in robes to make these decisions over the people and their representatives.

I'm thankful for a court that can protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

[Hauldren Collider]

The Queen is considered a completely neutral political entity, which is why she never, ever takes a partisan political position on anything. She's also however been receiving security briefings for the last 50 odd years, making her extremely well versed in security related issues.

The monarchy are a failsafe on abuse of political power, which of course includes the right to dissolve parliament. If the Queen ever countered a nuclear order, the assumption would be that our political leaders were basically overstepping their democratic bounds and doing something not in the best interests of our country. If it were afterwards discovered that she had misused that power, it would lead to the abolition of the monarchy, although if we're talking about nuclear war it's not like it matters so much.

The point that Americans tend to not understand however is that by having the Queen as our Commander in Chief instead of an elected President, we ensure that our military always has a non-political figurehead. No matter how unpopular the decision making of the government of the day, the Queen remains untarnished and we avoid potential issues of divided loyalty.

It's a position of incredible theoretical power and yet set out in such a way as to be virtually powerless. Even if you imagine a scenario where an insane monarch might try and use that power inappropriately, the machinery of state is such that they would be prevented from doing so long before any harm was actually done.

Did monarchs provide effective failsafes in Greece or Italy? This has not historically been a good system.

[DinoDoc]

I'm thankful for a court that can protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

If your side is to be believed, the winds of democratic change are blowing in your direction. What is the basis for such a basic distrust of the people in that situation?

[MrFun]

If your side is to be believed, the winds of democratic change are blowing in your direction. What is the basis for such a basic distrust of the people in that situation?

True; surveys claim that 52 percent of Americans support equal marriage rights now.

The fact that winds of democratic change can SOMETIMES in SOME cases blow in favor of equal rights protection and civil rights, does not mean the U.S. Supreme Court should be prohibited from ruling on question of constitutionality of discriminatory/unjust laws.

[kentonio]

As long as you're willing for foot the bill, it doesn't bother me.

I do object to footing the bill for religious throwbacks, but meh that's life.

Did monarchs provide effective failsafes in Greece or Italy? This has not historically been a good system.

President Mugabe is a terrible leader, the Presidential system is clearly bad.

[Hauldren Collider]

Zimbabwe has nothing even remotely similar to our form of government, truthfully, nobody does. All the things may nominally be in place but the way our constitution works has never really been copied, with strict free speech and things like that.

I think the closest example would probably be the Brazilians.

[kentonio]

Zimbabwe has nothing even remotely similar to our form of government, truthfully, nobody does. All the things may nominally be in place but the way our constitution works has never really been copied, with strict free speech and things like that.

I think the closest example would probably be the Brazilians.

The way the British monarchy works is also unique, which was kind of my point.

[PLATO]

The way the British monarchy works is also unique, which was kind of my point.

God save the Queen!

[kentonio]

Indeed.

[DinoDoc]

God save the Queen!

Starchild and redjon