Can we have a text book discussion on the meaning of democracy

[malaise]

It does not mean 'peaceful transition of power'. That is merely one of several (close to ten) criteria that are required for a political system to be called a 'liberal democracy'.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. Liberal democracy means majority rule/minority rights.

For instance gay folk can marry but they can't use the power of the government to force the neighborhood priest to preside over the ceremony.

[malaise]

2. That is another criteria

yes

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Rule of law, due process, habeas corpus, pluralism, compromise, peaceful dissent.

America is an idea... It's just not a big piece of real estate.

[malaise]

4. Free and fair elections

the right to vote, equality before the law, a feww and fair press (not the corporate media), the right to protest and others. There has never been pluralism - the ruling class run the show

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. We never had true economic pluralism.

It's the golden rule, those with the gold rule. We do/did have a degree of have political pluralism. We had freedom of movement, of belief, and of association.

I am afraid Trump wants to end that.

[malaise]

6. Agree to an extent on political pluralism although if you look at female numbers

and minority numbers, you cannot call that pluralism. The white male is still dominant.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. We were moving in the right direction, albeit glacially.

Trump wants to put an end to that. That is why the Deplorables adore him.

[malaise]

8. Forget that shithound for a minute

Let's look at the state of democracy in America

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. Churchill was a bit of a reactionary but he was right about democracy

It is the worst of all systems but better than all the rest.

Paradoxically democracy requires a great degree of consensus. If everybody had their own firmly held beliefs or roughly equal sized groups held beliefs on key issues and refused to compromise democracy would break down.

We did a pretty good job of papering over our differences. The average American isn't as ideological as we are or as ideological as the Deplorables. I am trying to think of an analogy. There is a scab on our differences. The Deplorables and Trump have let us know they intend to pull it off.

Nothing good will come out of this, nothing...

[malaise]

10. Churchill orchestrated more than one coup

He did not believe in democracy overseas. Churchill was also a racist

[CK_John]

11. IMO, you need to add a representative republic to your discussion.

[malaise]

14. That's for later

I want all the characteristics that make a liberal democracy a liberal democracy.
Happy New Year

[eniwetok]

12. OFF TOPIC... to malaise

You probably already know this but Thom Hartmann read from one of your DU posts on his radio show.

[malaise]

13. I did not know that

which one?

[eniwetok]

15. the show I heard

Last week someone was filling in for Thom for a few days then there was a rebroadcast of an earlier show... perhaps last Wed or Thurs aired perhaps two weeks before. The post was something about a family get together. I was pretty sure it was your user name... unless someone else has something similar.

[malaise]

16. I guess it was this post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028369435

[eniwetok]

17. might have been...

Thom often refers to posts here at DU... and never really mentioned posts at his own forum. It was a source of contention for his forum's regulars. Not that it matters. He shut down his forum last July. I miss all my right wing foes.

[malaise]

18. LOL

hehehehehe - I know what you mean