Democracy, Tyranny, and Liberty

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Do democracies promote freedom? According to Prof. Aeon Skoble, it is definitely possible for democracies to promote freedom, but it is not a guarantee. This is due to a few flaws inherent in democratic systems:

1) Majority belief in something does not necessarily mean that it's true.
2) Majorities are capable of being just as tyrannical as kings
3) Historically, democracies have elected tyrannical leaders.

If freedom is the primary value of a society, democracy might still be of use so long as there are boundary conditions on the democratic process that protect the rights of the individual.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• democracy
• democratic
• tyranny
• majority rule
• vote
• rights
• political
• system
• power
• society
• learn liberty
• liberty
• video
• freedom
• educational

[KayamaTakeru]

“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”

-Thomas Jefferson

[thekswervedirt]

Democracy is the road to socialism.  -KM

[northernvoxmedia]

@arad7613 Not neccessarily. Here in the UK the democratic system has led to the banning of smoking on private properties, such as pubs and restaurants, taking away the freedom of choice by the business owner. It has also stood in the way of gay marriage, led to the funding of "faith schools" and given the police more, and arguably unruly, powers. In these instances, democracy has led to the marginalisation of the individual and has given far more power to the state and the collective.

[cwoclingensmith]

I'd appreciate this more if it mentioned how the United States uses the Constitution as this "boundary condition." Many wrongly believe that we do live in a mob rule society but don't understand that the governments (local, state, and federal) are limited by definition, as stated in this document.

[DeliCiousTZM]

Its funny Socialism is actually realy realy good, But in the US Socialism is i donu the devil look at Canada your betters in that area.

[StateExempt]

@DeliCiousTZM - No thanks, that movement is full of bugs. Pun intended.

[liq0uid]

its still better than communism or dictatorship

[wendyspear]

How to know what is right or what is wrong? Who is the referee? All these depend on when, where you live.

[arad7613]

This dude is subverting the meaning of democracy. Democracy, nowadays, doesn't mean just democratic elections, but an entire system of checks and balances, aimed to protect the minorities from the tyranny of the majority and to prevent the rise of a tyrant. It is the best system if you want liberty, and it is dangerous to claim otherwise.

[funworldstar]

The right solution is that not only minorities have the democratic tools in their hands but also minorities have ones in their hands and Bill of Rights is best of them, a key to guaranteeing human rights, freedom and liberty.

[jpgarrett93]

@Magicwillnz You have a point. But "mob rule" is always something to be aware of. The whole "51% over 49%" isn't something to take lightly. The 51% can be corrupt-minded just like the oligarchies you're talking about.