democracy, is it really such a good thing?

[vanordinaire]

I live in Scotland and in case you didn't notice we just had a referendum. Every fool and his dog had an opinion and spouted it freely. The amount of absolute nonsense going about (from both sides of the argument) was ridiculous but it was aimed at the stupid majority and they believed it all so the result went to the side who managed to convince most idiots.
Wouldn't it be better if we only let clever people vote? Or if everyone has to have a say, give more weighting to votes dependant on the voter's IQ? Or an aptitude test before you can get on the electoral role?
There must be a way to avoid major decisions being made on the basis of spin and soundbites and personality. Any sugestions

[davepoth]

"...democ­racy is the worst form of Gov­ern­ment except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time..."

-Churchill

[Dixy]

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch.

B Franklin

[Moonhawk]

vanordinaire said:

....they believed it all so the result went to the side who managed to convince most idiots.

Not sure i'd agree. Do you need to be 'convinced' to keep things as they are if you know what they are and are happy with them?

This wasn't a vote to jump into a shark tank or an alligator pit - the vote was to jump or not jump.

[anonymous-user]

vanordinaire said:

... Wouldn't it be better if we only let clever people vote? Or if everyone has to have a say, give more weighting to votes dependant on the voter's IQ?

... Any sugestions

Yes, I suggest that dependent is spelled thus, suggestions is spelled thus, and that a written question conventionally has a question mark at the end of it. What was that about clever people again?

[marshalla]

One man, one vote. Now, how do we decide which man we can trust with the one vote ?

[Asterix]

"The greatest argument against democracy is a five minute chat with the average voter".

Churchill again, I believe.

[anonymous-user]

I would describe what just happened in Scotland as a vindication of democracy rather than an indictment of it.

Historically, entitlement to vote depended on property qualification (and gender). That was indefensible. A more educated electorate would be a good thing, but, even with an ill informed electorate, better democracy than any alternative yet devised.

[davepoth]

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."

-Abraham Lincoln

Which is the most powerful argument for democracy, as BV72 said. Salmond's "Yes to everything" couldn't fool all of the people all of the time.

[Justayellowbadge]

This should be a poll.

[Blib]

davepoth said:

"...democ­racy is the worst form of Gov­ern­ment except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time..."

-Churchill

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

Winston Churchill


ETA: As Asterix previously quoted.

[anonymous-user]

[Asterix]

Blib said:

davepoth said:

"...democ­racy is the worst form of Gov­ern­ment except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time..."

-Churchill

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

Winston Churchill

I was going to say 'Great minds...' but I'd only be bigging you up.

[Blib]

Asterix said:

Blib said:

davepoth said:

"...democ­racy is the worst form of Gov­ern­ment except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time..."

-Churchill

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

Winston Churchill

I was going to say 'Great minds...' but I'd only be bigging you up.

Alternatively, "Fools seldom differ".

[Countdown]

Would I be right in thinking that this is probably Tony Blair's fault?

[Roverload]

A combination of democracy and communism would be interesting, to be honest though, if I were in charge you would all be enslaved to serve me and that would be the end of it, no more war, no more hunger or global warming, just my never ending happiness, you can call me "dear leader" if you want?

[davepoth]

Breadvan72 said:

Fair enough. I'll back up my spurious quotation with a decent scholarly article on its spuriosity though.

http://www.abrahamlincolnassociation.org/Newslette...

[anonymous-user]

I wasn't disputing what Lincoln famously said; just joshing on the subject of net quotations.

[Jasandjules]

It is a question of fairness is it not? Everyone gets to vote.

Otherwise who decides who is intelligent - many people simply don't realise just how thick they are..... And where do you draw the line? Do you then move on to only rich people vote?

[marshalla]

Jasandjules said:

It is a question of fairness is it not? Everyone gets to vote.

Some might describe that as equality rather than fairness.