Just want to hear your thoughts on democracy in the US. What is it, and do we have it? If we don't, should we? If we do, give some examples of democracy at work in the US.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.

when i do whatever i want to do to myself w/out putting anyone else in immeadiate danger, than i Believe that I should be able to do so

So can i do that in this "great" country?

NO!... there is no such thing as democracy anymore.

FDA that regulates are food, lets companies put perservatives in OUR food that contain carcinogens in them ( Alot of them I might add)

Not to mention the steroids that cow, pig, etc farm use to bulk up their meat.

TO MANIPULATE THE MINDLESS MASSES INTO DOING WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE "WHOLE" ....

ALL the members of RIU should buy an island and move there so we can govern our own state!

Theres are VERY intellegent people on this site .. so to start our own REAL community would be TITS!

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Everything i say is a lie!!
HEY!!! http://www.rollitup.org/general-mari...ml#post3383728

"Democracy is a system of government in which either the actual governing is carried out by the people"

In my opinion, the corporations (AKA "the Man") - who control most the media outlets - and the special interests, have gangstered our government... and then there are all the czars (36 last I checked) who's power is questionable...

but as long as there is this little thing called the US constitution, we have the ability to replace the idiots in power, and take our government back, so there is Democracy.

Off point: I think it's hypocritical for our government to support non-democratic dictators... as they do in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and others; This is the real reason they want to destroy us; we help impose counterfeit Democracy across the globe.

I find myself leaning more towards libertarian views, but until the sheople stop drinking the kool Aid we won't see real change. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have failed us.

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"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so." - Thomas Jefferson my grow

I think you're confusing democracy with personal freedom. Freedom is important, but let's stick to the topic at hand.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.

Great perspective. +rep for you.

I'd venture to say that if corporations are the ones in power, then we don't have democracy - we have "corporatocracy". Does it really qualify as democracy if the representatives we elect are going to be primarily influenced by corporate payoffs rather than motivated by the will of their constituents?

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.

NO .... but ok ....

Its all intertwined my friend.... Democracy is basically a country governed by the people .. so when the people do not have the power to change things .. its BOTH.....

I am not trying to argue w/you @ all .. im simply stating my pt .. and if u disagree .. then so be it .. do not be a stickler and try to put me out .

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Everything i say is a lie!!
HEY!!! http://www.rollitup.org/general-mari...ml#post3383728

yes, democracy should result in freedom - at least the freedom to influence government decisions (although, in actuality democracy is something afforded to the people BY its government - so it isn't really freedom at all if you think of it that way).

There are plenty of examples of supposedly "democratic" nations whose people aren't actually free. sure, they can vote, but they live in constant states of war, poverty, etc, which are all things that reduce personal freedom.

I'm not trying to be a stickler, I'm just saying that because there is a facade of democracy, doesn't mean the people have freedom.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.

HEHE

I LOVE talking to intelligent people very much so!

It is so refreshing to talk to people that are not ignorant or arrogant, but insightful!

I have been on this for nearly 3yrs and have only had aproblem with one person that was very very childish and showed no sign of intellect...

Keep em' coming friend!

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Everything i say is a lie!!
HEY!!! http://www.rollitup.org/general-mari...ml#post3383728

Wow, 3 years and only one encounter? You're lucky!

I'm stuck in a web of idiocy over at the "obama is agianst (sic) potheads" thread. Dude is clearly just making things up in order to continue to argue with me. I had to pull out my +5 bullshit armor and Sword of Web Slashing, it's become THAT ridiculous.

anyway, hopefully some other people can add some insight to this discussion. I'm really interested in what everyone's perception of "democracy" is and whether or not they believe we have it here in the US.

+rep to you too, because freedom and democracy SHOULD go hand in hand.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.

i think democracy in america is faded. there is only the idea of choosing who stands on the podium. but when it comes down to it the government right now is looking out for big conglomo's interest more than our own. the idea that they were able to bankrupt themselves, and then go to the government to ask for money so they can pay bonuses to their officers sickens me.

it is very disturbing to know that anti-trust laws aren't being enforced. too big to fail companies still exist, so they can bankrupt themselves again and go to the tax payer for a bail out.... the media keeps circumventing the real issues that affect this country. they talk about a nation on the other side of the world as a huge threat. the US system is in danger, but it's not a bunch of arabs, it's a bunch of white, greedy, wealthy men riding in bentley's and flying private jets. those are the real enemy to freedom and to happiness, they are in fact stealing your money, AIG alone has more than 20,000 dollars per american. yet no one says anything, it just happens, and they took that money and spliced it up amongst themselves. now they're gonna want me to bail them out again, and congress will happily oblige....