Does Democracy Work - 856 Words

Democracy: a government by the people, in which citizens rule either directly or through elected representatives - the latter description more relevant to today’s societies. Quite evidently, democracy is not perfect; like any other political system, it is subject to a plethora of flaws. For instance, it is no secret that voters tend to make illogical decisions – not out of sheer malice, but as a result of being wrongly informed. Politicians also make erroneous choices, whether they do so because they are dishonest or simply out of touch with the true will of their constituents. Further, anyone who has studied the government of a parliamentary democracy knows gerrymandering can have a powerful say in determining elections. Despite these and†¦show more content†¦Allowing citizens to choose whether or not they vote, a practice restricted in certain democracies like Australia, can diminish the percentage of people who vote based on pure passion. Also, it is to be n oted that citizens vote based on self-interest, and because governments aim to please the majority of their citizens, having everyone vote is a helpful tool in determining what would benefit the majority of people. No matter how flawed, regular elections aid in the production of a variety of consequences that, albeit unintuitive at times, can be beneficial. Having mass involvement in elections creates a form of psychological pressure on both voters and politicians; without intending to, they allow everyone to have a voice, which results in voters feeling a pressure to be more involved citizens, and in politicians feeling a pressure to be more effective leaders. In the case that politicians do not live up to the ideals and criteria they were chosen for, a merit of democracy is that it allows the citizenry to punish these officials – not necessarily through extreme forms like impeachment, but perhaps by simply electing someone else in the forthcoming election. While, as previously addressed, not all participants in the election process vote based on truthful information, some citizens do. It must be remembered that not only those in authorityShow MoreRelatedHow Does Industrial Democracy Work?1579 Words   |  7 PagesHow Does Industrial Democracy Work In Europe And What Are Its Successes? Many countries have developed different methods of business management. Europe, for example, operates using industrial democracy. This type pf management requires consultation with the people and the union before making decisions and that is why it has been successful. Not only does it allow self-management for employees, but it also involves a more hands on approach with the union and has multiple levels of management. AlthoughRead More Does Democracy Work for the Entire World? Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesDoes Democracy Work for the Entire World? 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