The Witty Writer

The world has been rising up against all kinds of governments but in the last century, the world had dismantled several governments from Monarchy to communist noticeably only one-fourth of countries are ruled by authoritarian government today. In no time the world will rise against democracy as well. Democracy means rule of the people or rule of the majority but democracy also has its fair share of disadvantages. I would certainly agree with Socrates’s argument that voting in an election is a skill, not a random intuition in addition to that, this needs to be taught to people. Majority can’t decide what is right for the country unless they are educated furthermore democracy will always fail when majorly people vote without being rational. Plato has also argued that one would always want to be treated by a skilled doctor rather a randomly selected citizen hence city to be run by experts.

What is the alternative?

Aristotle suggested that aristocracy is the best form of government which is ruled by a small number of powerful and smart members. All these members belong to educated and higher class. However, the world has been constantly changing in terms of rights, law, society, freedom, education and demographics so whatever was right in ancient Greece, may not be right today. However, History has taught us that absolute power to a small group of people is far dangerous than power to masses.

It has been roller coaster ride for the world in the last few centuries, wherein we have seen rise and fall of the great empires, governments and countries. I will certainly vouch for the government which has characteristics of both, democracy and aristocracy as we can’t choose sides when freedom is ultimate good but freedom is also slavery. Country is better to be governed like visionary corporations rather than trade unions.

Quotes from the greats on democracy

Winston Churchill- Democracy is a very bad form of government… but all the others are so much worse.

Franklin D. Roosevelt- Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.

Plato- Democracy leads to anarchy, which is mob rule.

Milton Friedman- The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.

Reinhold Niebuhr- Human Beings are just good enough to make democracy possible…just bad enough to make it necessary.

Charles Bukowski- The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship, you don’t have to waste your time voting.

Thanks for reading!