Quotes About Democracy

Democracy is a work in progress. So is democracy's undoing.

But an old friend once told me that society is like a spear point—wide at the base, pointed at the tip. Democrats believe you can reshape it, removing the point. But as if by magic, it will grow again. There will always be kings, Thetis, and if not kings, then dictators. It is the nature of man to strive to rise above others, to impose his will on all.

The most baffling mystery about American democracy is why putting such a brilliant idea into practice seems to attract all the wrong people.

The inherent flaw with democratic elections is that they peddle the repulsive stink of neither/nor as the sultry perfume of either/or.

But now I could see, through the Vietnam debacle, that while there was a price to be paid, it was only correct to pay it if the product—democracy—was sound. And it was not sound in the corrupt ranks of South Vietnam's government and military, nor had it ever been, nor would it ever be, regardless of how many of America's sons threw their lives into the pot. As a nation, we had to get out of there. I'd

In early Greek society, particularly in Athens, democracy meant the equivalent of a permanent town meeting—all decisions of consequence were made in public assembly. As many professional service firms have rediscovered, this view of democracy tends to result in much wasting of time, slowness of response, and extreme conservatism in action.

Neoliberal theorists are, however, profoundly suspicious of democracy. Governance by majority rule is seen as a potential threat to individual rights and constitutional liberties. Democracy is viewed as a luxury, only possible under conditions of relative affluence coupled with a strong middle-class presence to guarantee political stability. Neoliberals therefore tend to favour governance by experts and elites.

The call to level the playing field, pushed to its logical conclusion, is a call for the systematic subversion of American individualism and democracy. It is the kitsch marxism of our time.

Once more, we will have a government of, by and for the people.

The crowd-pleasing, pilfered genre had mated with democracy and produced a seemingly invincible bastard: government by force of farce.

People who vote for candidates bought by private business interests are not politically free in any real sense.

La belleza no se halla repartida de forma democrática.

The Greeks had invented democracy, built the Acropolis and called it a day.

Standing in a two-hour line makes people worry that they're not living in a democratic nation.

Standing in a two-hour line makes people worry that they're not living in a democratic nation. People stand in line for two houres and they go over the edge.

No one should believe those who surround "the ballot box with obstacles and sinuosities . . . intended to . . . defeat . . . the elective franchise.

feminist Abby Kelley to the executive committee by a tally of 557 to 451.

Constitutioon

A referendum magnifies the worst aspects of an already imperfect system—democracy—channeling a dazzlingly wide variety of issues through a very narrow gate. It has

The Republicans abandoned the pretext of democracy to fight a war for power long ago.

Of course in a democracy the government and the citizens have to abide by court rulings, even if we don't like them or don't agree with them.

There is no power above people power.

As an MP, it is my job to hold the government to account.

It takes time for people to understand how to hold leaders accountable.