What is the greatest democracy?

[Swede]

My esteem for the USA has fallen through the floor after these last two elections. In most countries if you are a citizen you get to vote,but in the USA you have to register and then you get a vote. What is that about? Then there is a whole group of citizens trying to stop the vote of another group,this just doesn't happen in a true democracy.

[Dying Eagle]

1. I picked Australia

The Aussies are a bunch of No BS kind of people. My Uncle lives there and they have a very progressive society. Heath care, Phones, Utility's All government run. He talks to me here for a hour and it only costs him $7 ($5 American).

[autorank]

2. India, in a walk.

India has the best voting system in the world. They developed a standardized electronic voting system, deployed it throughout the country, and it functions very well. As you may have noted, Indian politics can be quite passionate. In addition, there are 100 million Moslem's in India. Yet, the vote proceeds and there are no riots or anything like that.

The consensus in India is that every vote should count and be counted fairly. They make our current system here look laughable!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3493474.stm

[theorist]

5. I was speaking with a Christian Indian recently.

He honestly believes that the US is the greatest country on in all of history. For instance, he said that certain speech in India, such as promoting the destruction of the Indian government (common jihadist rhetoric), will get you landed in jail for questioning. Human rights are taken seriously, so there isn't any torture involved, but things like this in the U.S. are recent (Ashcroftian) occurrences.

[autorank]

10. Good point but at least they can vote for change.

And I wouldn't be engaging in any speech about the destruction of any government between Canada and Mexico at any time soon. I'm sure the consequences would be swift and noteworthy. What a shame.

[nine30]

19. That will happen here too..

"certain speech in India, such as promoting the destruction of the Indian government (common jihadist rhetoric), will get you landed in jail for questioning"

If you make any threats against the govt. or the President here, you will be whisked away by the FBI and put in Jail. In fact Eminem's rap song that had the lyris "..I would rather have the President Dead.." created quite a controversy and if he hadn't clarified what he meant, he would be in prison today.

[signmike]

20. Hey, we deserve some credit

I submit it is WE who make our system laughable
MWAHahahahahahahahahaha

[zeek]

21. Ancient Greece

18th century United states might deserve a nod as well, because we were the country that said enough is enough and more or less reinvented the concept.

The problem with the U.S. since then has been the two party system. In my opinion that stifles true democracy.

[autorank]

22. Welcome to DU...Zeek from Cabin Creek (Jerry West's old nickname).

[theorist]

3. I bash my country (USA) for plenty of things, but I still picked it.

Having spoken with many international students from various schools and labs I've been in, the US is still considered to be the top place to live.

[Swede]

4. Good for you. The USA is a work in progress.

Just like all democracies. We are living in a snapshot.

[Us vs Them]

6. I voted France

Their idea of the Republic gains my respect.

Granted, they found inspiration in our founding fathers, so is a vote for France a vote for the US? Who knows.

[Placebo]

7. Viva La France

[jpgray]

8. Where's Brazil?

They have some really interesting elections there.

[Swamp Rat]

12. Eu voto pra Brasil também.

:D

[Swede]

13. Sorry if I left out Brazile.

It is a huge country.

[charlyvi]

9. I voted for France.

Mostly to piss off the freepers, but I do love their history. And food. And wine. And movies.

[burrowowl]

11. New Zealand is

more civilized than Austrailia

[nine30]

14. Other : Afghanistan

[immoderate]

15. Our founding fathers

got good ideas from French philosophers like Rousseau and Voltaire. And some English too, like Locke.

The best democracy was probably ancient Athens.

--IMM

[Cybergata]

16. This is the history of this country....

that is denying the right to vote to anyone but the rich, white voters. :hippie:

[BlueCaliDem]

17. I picked Canada...Because....

...at least they give ALL political parties a say in their congress (best for checks and balances), and MOST importantly--they can count all votes cast in as little as FOUR HOURS!
...and Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) lives there! :hug:

[Dez]

18. Canada

got my vote. They are much freer than us here in the U.S . I don't know how they Americans can say how free they are.

[Minstrel Boy]

23. Canadian electoral financing is increasingly democratic.

Introduced earlier this year, these are the new rules:

Corporations, Trade Unions and Associations are barred from making political contributions.

Personal contributions are capped at $5,000 per year.

Political parties receive public financing according to the number of votes they receive. I think it's approximately $1.5 for every vote.

[canuckagainstBush]

24. Iceland

25. USA

I voted USA. But the reason I voted USA was not from the patriotic populism of the Republican administration. The reason why America is the greatest Democracy ever is because at one time we did have some that at least desired a pure democracy back around 1776.

A pure democracy being living in a country that respects the rights of the minority point of view no matter how much it may offend the majority, that principle of pure democracy is called liberty. Then life and the pursuit of happiness.

Most of the rest of the world is not aware that most citizens here have never even read the Constitution or the Bill of Rights or can even define what they think a democracy is.

And of course the other great principle of a pure democracy which is simply to be friendly your neighbor. That philosophy has not existed from around the Reagan era to present.

Most of the world has never experienced this sort of a pure democracy, so they admire us.

But the problem is that American democracy was sold out long before I was even born but the rest of the world is not aware of this fact.

Most of the religious fanatics on the right say love it or leave it. The problem is that most of the other countries of the world don't want us as citizens unless they have some money to give to the economy.

[DELUSIONAL]

26. New Zealand -- they've had the guts to stand up to the US

Canada -- because they are closer -- but New Zealand is doing a whole lot right.

Besides -- they did a good job of bringing "Lord of the Ring" to the big screen.

[althecat]

28. Damn right...

Plus we have friendly sheep.

Maaate

[EricL]

27. You forgot Poland !

Seriously a political system is a result of a country's history.

What is good for one may be wrong for another.

I like Switzerland's direct democracy where citizens vote on almost every issues.

:hi:

[nine30]

29. Not to forget - - Djibouti