Democratitis

[Underground_Network]

Democratitis

Democracy spreads like a disease across four oceans.
It swells up the water into a typhoon of so-called freedom
And pursues happiness as a lion pursuing a three-legged deer.

It spreads rapid fire through rain forests and vast jungles,
Leaving no vine untouched.
It paints the leaves red, white and blue
And tramples the undergrowth into the underground.

Democracy sets off a flare in the suburban landscape,
Lighting the top of a skyscraper aflame.
The denizens below smile,
Then, shortly thereafter,
They frown.

Democracy keeps spreading,
People keep smiling,
Then, shortly thereafter,
Frowning.

But democracy keeps spreading,
Like a disease,
Across four oceans,
Across rain forests and vast jungles
Urban, suburban and rural communities.

Democracy doesn’t stop.
Democracy pounds itself into the hearts of the unwilling,
And sacrifices the intelligent
For the sake of the belligerent.

God bless—
Democratitis.
(Watch it spread).

[Sapphire]

How can you compare democracy with disease?

[Underground_Network]

Each individual is entitled to their own perception of a concept or an idea.

Twisting words is considered propaganda by some, but it is simply a method of expressing opinion in a more, some would say 'devious,' though I would say 'clever' way.

I have nothing against democracy. I do have my gripes with the misuse and misinterpretation (while in power) of democracy though, and the ideals and concepts brought along with those who think they can abuse democracy and in the process torture (not only mentally, but physically and even emotionally) a PORTION of their denizens, mainly those who will never truly understand freedom, as they will never truly be FREE.

The United States is a democracy. But at the same time, it's not. I'd elaborate, but you'd dismiss everything I'd say as opinion, when people have to realize that opinion is based off fact, fact in the ideal of perception, as in, my viewing of an event and my perceiving it to mean something that it may not mean to someone else. This is how fact and opinion can be one in the same. If a man dies, it's a fact. But if we dispute his cause of death (and we have no way of knowing his actual cause of death), we will just be throwing opinions out there, and more than likely be dismissing one another's. Therefore, democracy = good, but democracy also = bad. End of story.

[Sage]

Hate the players, don't hate the game.

[Number02]

... Deep. Do people realy want freedom? Or have they been TOLD that they want to be free?

[Sage]

... Deep. Do people realy want freedom? Or have they been TOLD that they want to be free?

Take someone's freedom away, that's when they want it.

[Underground_Network]

What is freedom?

You must define a concept before you can state whether a vast majority would prefer it or not.

That and you can't speak for a vast majority, even statistics don't always back up an assumed opinion of a 'majority' of people.

[Yesterdays Hero]

Well... I liked it. :D

[Sapphire]

Democracy is the only way a country or state should be governed.
Dictatorships are open to a greater abuse and misuse of power because the leaders cannot be held accountable and the people can't have their say either.

I see freedom as being able to express your own opinion and emotions, to visit friends and family, to get an education, to work and to live your life without fear of injury or death.

The USSR took away the freedom of millions of people in a number of different countries and they all wanted it back - many died while expressing such desires.
Saddam Hussein took freedom from millions too and look at the joy on the faces of Iraqi's in the street when he fell.
Idi Amin also took freedoms away and his demise was met with a similar amount of joy.

People want freedom, not threats.

[Underground_Network]

Tell me about your experiences under a dictatorship Carole, and I will agree with you.

If you yourself have not experienced and are solely basing your opinion off of other opinions on dictatorships then I have no basis on which to believe you, as I can just counter your argument with opinions of my own.

An idea such as democracy has its flaws, as does every other form of government. I can dislike PARTS of democracy without hating my country or hating the people in it. I dislike the ABUSE of democracy, not democracy itself.

[Sapphire]

Tell me about your experiences under a dictatorship Carole, and I will agree with you.

If you yourself have not experienced and are solely basing your opinion off of other opinions on dictatorships then I have no basis on which to believe you, as I can just counter your argument with opinions of my own.LOL!
An idea such as democracy has its flaws, as does every other form of government. I can dislike PARTS of democracy without hating my country or hating the people in it. I dislike the ABUSE of democracy, not democracy itself.
I never said it was flawless but it cannot be disputed that it is one of the best forms of government out there with regard to creating a safe forum for discussion/criticism of governmental policies with input from the public and the safeguarding of human rights.

[Number02]

It is slow, outdated and to susceptible to infiltration and corruption. The fact of the matter is, the days when politicians were moral, upstanding fellows are long gone. So in the interest of the state, a dictatorship would be ideal, provided the dictator is right. I'm sure there will be a few dictators who haven't destroyed their populace. George Bush. Tony Blair. Etc etc

[Sapphire]

It is slow, outdated and to susceptible to infiltration and corruption. The fact of the matter is, the days when politicians were moral, upstanding fellows are long gone. So in the interest of the state, a dictatorship would be ideal, provided the dictator is right. I'm sure there will be a few dictators who haven't destroyed their populace. George Bush. Tony Blair. Etc etc
Ok, a quick crash course in politics here.

A democracy is where the public elects one party to govern the country for a set term. When that term is up, another election is held.
The UK and the USA are democracies and so Bush and Blair weren't dictators.

A dictatorship is where the public has no power whatsoever. A leader (dictator) has power and can do what he/she wants without being challenged or held accountable. There is no way (other than military intervention or assassination) to replace the dictator with a different leader.
Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler were all dictators.

[Number02]

Politicians aren't the only people who don't speak literally ;)

[Sage]

The fact of the matter is, the days when politicians were moral, upstanding fellows are long gone.

Sorry, what? Did I miss something? When was this?

[Number02]

... You have a point Deschain.

Who is held accountable for all the terrible mistakes that democracies wreak? Sure, they get voted out (Or otherwise lose their power) eventually, but within a democracy, buried under the red tape, there's noone who can account for the mistakes and travesties, it's all 'he said, she said' and 'well, there are procedures..' and 'yeh but no but'. It's all bull, and it's weak, crippled by time and corruption. On the other hand, I concede that i wouldn't really like to live in anything other than a democracy, I would chafe against dictatorship, and anarchy would screw me over.

[Sage]

On the other hand, I concede that i wouldn't really like to live in anything other than a democracy, I would chafe against dictatorship, and anarchy would screw me over.

I don't know, anarchy wouldn't be so bad if it were of the zombie apocalypse variety. Only the stupid, slow-moving zombies of course, though.

[Underground_Network]

This has turned into an interesting discussion. 0.o

[Sapphire]

... You have a point Deschain.

Who is held accountable for all the terrible mistakes that democracies wreak? Sure, they get voted out (Or otherwise lose their power) eventually, but within a democracy, buried under the red tape, there's noone who can account for the mistakes and travesties, it's all 'he said, she said' and 'well, there are procedures..' and 'yeh but no but'. It's all bull, and it's weak, crippled by time and corruption.If what they did was illegal there are plenty of people who would hold them accountable.
But if they didn't do anything illegal but still lost the hearts and minds of the public then there is no justifiable reason to do anything other than kick them out at the next election.

And Deschain, you should read The Lord of the Flies.

[Number02]

I wasn't aware that disturbingly entertaining fiction was something you considered useful?

[Sapphire]

I wasn't aware that disturbingly entertaining fiction was something you considered useful?
It has many themes to it - one of them being about changes in the way the group of children is organised/governed - so, yes, it is useful.