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COMMENTARY

Perception of democracy can be hazy

Published: 3 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Democracy is certainly not about everyone being free to get what they want and as much as they want. If everyone can lay their hands on everything they want there will be anarchy.

Democracy is not synonymous with freedom, or to be more precise, unrestrained freedom.

Even in the freest of societies, freedom exists within an invisible frame around each person and when frames collide, disputes emerge. When disputes cannot be reconciled, the law steps in and decides who is at fault.

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facts_only
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Discussion 7 : 04 Jan 2013 at 00.067
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In the US, there is the Senate majority, House majority, electoral majority, popular majority, and a majority elected President, etc. This system exists to ensure no single majority dominates the government.
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ringmaster
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Discussion 6 : 03 Jan 2013 at 23.516
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Churchill's famous dictum: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." I tend to agree with Spiceman up to a point. Both the constitution and election results should be respected. However there is one group in Thailand that respects neither.
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spiceman
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Discussion 5 : 03 Jan 2013 at 19.555
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Khun Bennu #4, no democracy is perfect because it is created by imperfect human beings to govern other imperfect human beings. So, at least, until mankind perfects itself which in itself an impossibility. Therefore, perfect democracy is simply a myth.

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary." (James Madison)
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bennu
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Discussion 4 : 03 Jan 2013 at 19.224
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No democracy is perfect yet.
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dao
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Discussion 3 : 03 Jan 2013 at 14.013
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This commentary wouldnt have been written if Thailand wasnt being led by such a warped governemnt that placates the poor with taxpayer money .
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spiceman
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Discussion 2 : 03 Jan 2013 at 08.002
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Democracy can be many things to many people. In itself, Democracy is "Mob Rule" for a worthy cause. So, it depends on what kind of worthy causes Democracy will be used for? In the US, except the last 5 years, it meant majority rule, while preserving minority right, based upon the Rules of Law, which in turn, based on the founding principles of Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, and Equal Justice for All. The end result should be free & prosperous nation, instead of the opposite. So, without a worthy cause reflected by our Rules of Law, Democracy simply cannot exist. But can anyone tell me what kind of worthy cause we're pursuing?
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felixqui
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Discussion 1 : 03 Jan 2013 at 02.331
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True, unbridled freedom is anarchy, not democracy.
But neither is democracy synonymous with majority rule. The true defining characteristic of healthy democracy is that all citizens are treated as of equal worth - not as being equal, which we clearly are not, but due equal respect as autonomous persons able and entitled absolutely to have our say in the formation of our society, its laws and its government.
Thus, elections and majorities are important; thus too, mob rule is not good enough, needing a strong constitution to keep large, baying majorities in hand, and ensuring the fundamental respect of all, even of most hated opinions.
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