what are the advantage and disadvantages of Democracy?
Answers
Answer:
List of the Advantages of Democracy
1. Democracies give people a chance to become personally involved with their government.
Because the government in a democracy is under the control of the people and their voice, then it is up to each individual to decide their fate. People can choose to vote in whatever way their morality dictates. Some even give voters the option to not vote if that is what they feel is the best way to express their opinion.
Every ballot is an opportunity to express one’s personal opinion. Whether that voice lands in the majority or not, there is an agreement in a democracy that the tally of the vote stands unless there is a clear moral objection to the outcome. A community won’t object over the failure of a tax levy for a swimming pool, but the judicial system might step in if the people vote to accept a local ordinance that allows slavery.
2. A democracy encourages equality in a positive way.
The structure of a democracy gives every vote an equal amount of weight during an election. This option gives each person the chance to cast a ballot without judgment when they register for this process, providing an opinion that despite their social or economic status. Everything “yes” or “no” counts as one, whether you are rich or poor, own land or not, of express your gender in a specific way.
“Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality,” said Alexis de Tocqueville. “But notice the difference; while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
3. The structure of a democracy works to reduce issues with exploitation.
All government formations are sensitive to exploitation because of the people who get elected into powerful positions. The contrast with democracy is that the authorities are distributed more equally within it. The ruling documents in this structure create checks and balances to assure that no single person receives supreme power over the legislative process.
Democracies prevent elected officials from ignoring the needs of the general population to help themselves. It challenges them to represent the needs of each community so that everyone receives an equal opportunity to pursue their democracy.
List of the Disadvantages of Democracy
1. Democracy is ineffective unless voters educate themselves on governing decisions.
A democracy allows an individual to cast a vote either directly or through a preferred representative on the issues that the government must manage. There is no direction as to how voters approach this responsibility. Although some people will educate themselves on each issue to offer an experienced opinion, there is no requirement to go through all of this work. Someone can turn in a ballot that is a straight-party ticket with no consideration about the individual views or needs.
President Teddy Roosevelt reportedly once said this: “A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.”
2. The structure of democracy depends upon the will of the majority.
History has taught us that the will of the majority is not always the ethical or moral position that one should take. We have dealt with issues like slavery, discrimination, and gender inequality in the past because the perspective of the those with the most votes say that society deserves to have those elements. If someone finds themselves outside of the will of the majority more often than not, then it will feel like their vote doesn’t really count for something.
“Majority rule only works if you’re also considering individual rights,” said Larry Flynt. “Because you can’t have five wolves and one sheep voting on what they should all be having for supper.”
3. Democracy can encourage mob rule.
People are migrating toward neighborhoods, employment opportunities, and even relationships based on how comfortable they are around other people. The prevalence is to have neighbors and friends who have a like-minded perspective because there is a fear present in democracy of being wrong. No one wants to be stuck on the outside looking in when it comes to governing. Some states in the U.S. are even becoming polarized as families keep moving to stay within their comfort zone. Democracies encourage mob thinking because every election becomes an “us vs. them” edict.
“Remember,” Will Rogers reportedly warned, “democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”
Answer:
12 Representative Democracy Advantages and Disadvantages
by Natalie Regoli
A representative democracy is a structure of government where officials are elected to represent groups of people. These officials then vote on policies, laws, and other items of government business on behalf of the people so that the general population doesn’t need to vote on every separate issue as they would in a direct democracy.
2-Most democracies in the West are a form of a representative democracy. The United States is a federal republic, the UK is a constitutional monarchy, and Ireland is a parliamentary republic.
3-The advantage of a representative democracy is its efficiency. A large group of people receive the benefits of living in a democracy by having one representative vote according to their needs, wishes or desires. It saves time and money for the government so the funds can be used for other purposes.
The disadvantage of a representative democracy is that an official isn’t required to vote based on how their district or population center wishes them to vote. They can pursue their own agendas, vote according to their own conscious, and the only way to stop this is to either vote that person out of office on the next election cycle of initiate a recall election if one is allowed.
Here are some additional representative democracy advantages and disadvantages to think about.
Here are the Pros of a Representative Democracy
1. It still gives power to the people.
A government with this structure still relies on what the majority of the people want in most circumstances. Each population center can send a representative to the government which will provide them with a voice in how the government operated.
4-If the representative doesn’t perform or vote as the population they represent desires, then they can be voted out on the next election. In the US, that can be as soon as 2 years.
5. Checks and balances are put in place to limit power.
In a representative democracy, it is important for all branches of the government to share equal power, but with differing responsibilities. In the United States, there is an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. Each keeps the other in check because no single branch of government can wield all the power. This structure makes it possible for each representative to offer an opinion on laws or policies.
3. Everyone has the chance to participate.
As long as you are eligible to vote, then you get to participate in a representative democracy. Sometimes people feel like their votes don’t count, especially if they find themselves in a minority position most of the time, but the ability to participate in the elections is not compromised. If you can vote, then you are making your opinion be heard.
4. It allows the government to react quickly.
In an emergency situation, a representative democracy allows the government to act quickly to respond to whatever potential threat may be in place. There isn’t the need to put a vote to the rest of the public. The government officials can look at the situation, decide on the best course of action, and then take action.
5. It encourages people to participate.
When people know that they can have their voice heard in their government, they are more likely to participate in the elections that are held. When there are important decisions to be made, more people show up to vote. In the 2016 US Presidential election, for example, more 126 million votes were cast. In 2008, 63% of eligible voters came out to cast a ballot.
6. It allows a district to form their own governmental presence.
In the US, there are three stages of government: local, regional, and national. Each can be structured in a way to meet needs as effectively as possible at every level.
Explanation: