Say my campaign manager stole my election for me?

[ultimate777]

Do you share my revulsion, FL?

No. Democracies are corrupt as well.

FL

I could be cute, and JUST say, "So, there are some non-democracies you approve of?"

An answer to that might be nice but I think there is more to say.

IMHO all governments are corrupt to a certain extent, but democracies are likely to be less so than non-democracies.
Take Russia, in someways democratic, in some ways not as much as during the Yeltzen era. The government is largely corrupt. If it were truly more democratic I think it would gradually become less corrupt.

And I think wars with democracies as they would be considered today as major players on both sides would be rare. If you site the ACW or the War of 1812 as exceptions, I am talking about democracies with almost total adult sufferage.

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

I could be cute, and JUST say, "So, there are some non-democracies you approve of?"

Well...yes. Generally, African countries fare better under military dictatorships as these come with an important element missing in African democracies: stability.

Democracy in and of itself is not a guarantee of success for a country. Liberia is an historical example. Zimbabwe is a recent democratic basket case. Ditto for Zambia.

IMHO all governments are corrupt to a certain extent, but democracies are likely to be less so than non-democracies.

People are corrupt from the cradle, this I know for the Bible tells me so... So any government composed of people is going to have its lot of evil. As for democracies being less likely to be corrupt than other forms of government, well...I'm not sure you could make a good case for that.

I am talking about democracies with almost total adult sufferage.

Sufferage is almost meaningless. The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot during an election is more significant. In the West, this percentage is declining markedly for all countries where voting is not compulsory.

Anyway, don't worry. The New Heaven and the New Earth will be a much better place and there will be no democracy there!

FL

[ultimate777]

I could be cute, and JUST say, "So, there are some non-democracies you approve of?"

Well...yes. Generally, African countries fare better under military dictatorships as these come with an important element missing in African democracies: stability.

Of course, after all, didn't Hitler improve the economy in Germany and build the world's best higways? Germany isn't exactly in Africa, but the same principles apply.

Democracy in and of itself is not a guarantee of success for a country. Liberia is an historical example. Zimbabwe is a recent democratic basket case. Ditto for Zambia.

I take that with a grain of salt big enough to dry out San Francisco Bay.

IMHO all governments are corrupt to a certain extent, but democracies are likely to be less so than non-democracies.

People are corrupt from the cradle, this I know for the Bible tells me so... So any government composed of people is going to have its lot of evil. AS I said.

As for democracies being less likely to be corrupt than other forms of government, well...I'm not sure you could make a good case for that.

I am talking about democracies with almost total adult sufferage.

Sufferage is almost meaningless.

You know better than that.

The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot during an election is more significant. In the West, this percentage is declining markedly for all countries where voting is not compulsory.

Often times where democracy is most secure there is the least percentage of voting. I'll bet in 1932 Germany there was a much higher percentage than there was in the USA of the same year.

Anyway, don't worry. The New Heaven and the New Earth will be a much better place and there will be no democracy there!

FL

Well, if you have a perfect leader, what do you expect? How many African regimes of any sort have had perfect leaders?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

Well, if you have a perfect leader, what do you expect? How many African regimes of any sort have had perfect leaders?

No country has a perfect leader! Malawi in Africa under Banda (a dictator) was a well run country. Rhodesia under Ian Smith (apartheid state) was a well run country. Singapore Under whatshisname (a dictator) is a well run state.

My point: the leader is more important than the type of political system.

FL

[ultimate777]

Well, if you have a perfect leader, what do you expect? How many African regimes of any sort have had perfect leaders?

No country has a perfect leader! Malawi in Africa under Banda (a dictator) was a well run country. Rhodesia under Ian Smith (apartheid state) was a well run country. Singapore Under whatshisname (a dictator) is a well run state.

My point: the leader is more important than the type of political system.

FL

But what happens when the good leader cannot lead anymore?

If every emperor was as good as Augustus then the SPQR might be still around. But look what they got when Augustus died, then look what they got when Tiberius died?

[Furstentum Liechtenstein]

But what happens when the good leader cannot lead anymore?

You elect Obama.

FL