Advantages of a democratic and open society
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Advantages of a democratic and open society
February 20, 2010
By Richard Lu
Dear Singaporeans,
I have been reading the comments in the Temasek Review and here are some of my thoughts on democracy.
Democracy exists in several shades and hues – from liberal to sinister to diabolical. Ask Robert Mugabe or Kim Jong-il. Democracy is characterized by:
· “majority rule”;
· rule of law; and
· separation of powers.
Within the 3 characteristics we find:
a. Freedom of expression
b. Social and political tolerance
c. Civil society and
d. Accountability and transparency
An essential process in liberal or representative democracies is competitive elections that are fair both substantively and procedurally. Freedom of political expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are essential so that citizens are informed and able to vote in their personal interests.
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy or constitutional democracy is the dominant form of democracy in the 21st century. The term “liberal” in “liberal democracy” refers to adherence to the ideology of political liberalism. Liberal democracies feature constitutional protections of individual rights from government power.
There is general agreement that the states of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, India, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are liberal democracies.
Structure
According to the principles of liberal democracy, the elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive. Political pluralism is usually defined as the presence of multiple and distinct political parties.
The liberal democratic constitution defines the democratic character of the state. The purpose of a constitution is often seen as a limit on the authority of the government. The European and American political traditions emphasize the separation of powers, an independent judiciary, and a system of checks and balances between branches of government.
Many European democracies emphasize the importance of the state that follows the principle of rule of law. Governmental authority is legitimately exercised only in accordance with written, publicly disclosed laws adopted and enforced in accordance with established procedure.Political stability
One argument for democracy is that it is a system where the majority can remove administrations, without changing the legal basis or the constitution. Democracy reduces political uncertainty and instability. It assures citizens that they will be given a regular chance to change the government, or policies they disagree. This is preferable to a system of violent political changes.
Some think that political stability is excessive or undesirable when a group remains in power the same for too long.
In the past, it was feared that democracy could be easily exploited by leaders with dictatorial aspirations. However, the actual number of liberal democracies that have elected dictators into power is low.
Loyal OppositionThe notion of a “loyal opposition” exists in various Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdoms it is termed formally as Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and informally as the Official Opposition, with the head of the largest opposition party – that which holds the second largest number of seats – typically designated as the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
Some other advantages of democratic government structure
1. The freedoms and rights of the citizens in liberal democracies are usually seen as beneficial.2. Democracies are more often associated with a higher average self-reported happiness in a nation.3. Democracy correlates with a higher score on the human development index and a lower score on the human poverty index.4. Democracy, parliamentary systems, political stability, and freedom of the press are all associated with lower corruption.5. A democratic system may provide better information for policy decisions.Democracy in Singapore
Mr. Daniel Adelman, US Ambassador-designate to Singapore has admitted that Singapore is not a democracy and replied that the United States must engage Singapore on these issues:
“My view is the United States must engage Singapore on these issues. You identified the area where, quite candidly, Singapore needs the most improvement if it were to live up to the ambitions Americans have for democracy. Make no mistake, currently Singapore is not a multi-party democracy, and I intend, if confirmed, to use public diplomacy to work towards greater press freedoms, greater freedom of assembly and ultimately, more political space for opposition parties in Singapore to strengthen Singapore into a multi-party democracy.”The Economist Democracy Index ranks Singapore as 82nd in the world in terms of democratic development, below neighbors such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Reporters Without Borders ranks Singapore 133rd out of 175 for press freedoms.Quoting one founding father, Lee Kuan Yew:
“But we either believe in democracy or we not. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed… If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought, and no excuse, whether of security, should allow a government to be deterred from doing what it knows to be right, and what it must know to be right… “- Legislative Assembly Debates, April 27, 1955
Conclusion
In conclusion, Singaporeans understand the necessity to democratize Singapore; the advantages of an open society – freedom of expression, social and political tolerance, civil society and rule of law, separation of powers, loyal opposition and finally happiness. Can we make it happen?
Yours sincerely,Richard Lu
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/02/20/advantages-of-a-democratic-and-open-society/
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Constructive comments are welcome, but not distorting one!
Eg seeking attention.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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Attention!!! Turn Left!!! left right, left right, left right left....
Dear Mr Richard Lu,
A too open liberal society can bring a society in it knees, freedom is dangerous if one cannot handle it properly, it can destroy 50 years of national building to a chaotic society of tomorrow. Everything had it limitation, if you give your childrens too much freedom, they can turn bad, on the other hand, too strict can make them rebellion, simply applying it in our society, we need to set limit, abit freedom, a bit strictness, even the US of A cannot deny that they must have certain restriction to everything, freedom, democracy and liberalisation applied differently across the Globe, as long as work and show result within a framework of non violence and prosperity for all, that every country is consider successful.
If the American are good democratic peoples or named themselves as leader of democracy, there will not be so much psychotic and willow peoples around,there, and in america, a lawyer is a good job, because the openess of rights had lead to so much libel suits here and there for sake of money and not democracy. How they treated the red indian of american and the blacks of New Orlean can truly tell you they are a pack of wolves, if that Hurricane Katrina had striked on NY, all would be saved. No wonder, Ayotallahs of Iran use to say, American have the biggest mouth. And yet you as a typical Singapura citizens dare to quote a an US envoy, who has all the immunity in his rights. He can said what he likes, and fart what he love.
Angel
Former PA to Richard Hu
Former Finance Minister of Singapore
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no choice some people got only rich old man to discipline
why no mother to discipline what
sorry lah i forgot the old man busy shopping with his GF
come to singapore cos the father got money
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quitter, like this only, no choice liao...in life, there is a choice...even to die, there is a choice too...jump or slash or take pills etc etc...
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Originally posted by angel7030:
quitter, like this only, no choice liao...in life, there is a choice...even to die, there is a choice too...jump or slash or take pills etc etc...
so there is a choice for death. Please tell us which date you have chosen to die and the forumers here will celebrate your death.ke ekekekekkekeke!
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born celebrate, die celebrate, human are real funny.I am in my God arm now...as Angel
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Originally posted by angel7030:
Attention!!! Turn Left!!! left right, left right, left right left....
Dear Mr Richard Lu,
A too open liberal society can bring a society in it knees, freedom is dangerous if one cannot handle it properly, it can destroy 50 years of national building to a chaotic society of tomorrow. Everything had it limitation, if you give your childrens too much freedom, they can turn bad, on the other hand, too strict can make them rebellion, simply applying it in our society, we need to set limit, abit freedom, a bit strictness, even the US of A cannot deny that they must have certain restriction to everything, freedom, democracy and liberalisation applied differently across the Globe, as long as work and show result within a framework of non violence and prosperity for all, that every country is consider successful.
If the American are good democratic peoples or named themselves as leader of democracy, there will not be so much psychotic and willow peoples around,there, and in america, a lawyer is a good job, because the openess of rights had lead to so much libel suits here and there for sake of money and not democracy. How they treated the red indian of american and the blacks of New Orlean can truly tell you they are a pack of wolves, if that Hurricane Katrina had striked on NY, all would be saved. No wonder, Ayotallahs of Iran use to say, American have the biggest mouth. And yet you as a typical Singapura citizens dare to quote a an US envoy, who has all the immunity in his rights. He can said what he likes, and fart what he love.
Angel
Former PA to Richard Hu
Former Finance Minister of Singapore
There does not exist any country in the world which can fit these (textbook) definitions of "democracy", which are based on outdated views.
The political system in each country is so nuanced, the culture and people so diverse that trying to impose these terms onto a particular country would result in a distorted view of their political system.
In any case, why is "democracy" deemed the preferable political system for every country, besides the fact that "democracy" can be defined as well as the "sublime" can be defined? Why do majority of people associate "democracy" with "good", with maybe another textbook political system as "bad", falling into the primitive duality of good vs evil?
As is most of our social institutions, the concept of "democracy" only exists in textbooks and in the minds of human beings. I'm not sure what your stand is but labeling the US a "democratic country" is a bad joke even if we consider the emptiness of the term.
Consider the revolving door between American corporations, especially the financial sector and the government, the culture of militarism in the US, and the blatant disregard the people in the government have for the working Americans. That sure isn't a country where the People is in charge.
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there is more to life than thinkin of dying.and i dun think god will just grab anyone n put him in his arm.he/she has to prove his/her worth !
.................do not think just because u call yerself an angel ....any god will accept u in his arm. your angel got certificate from heaven or not ???might as well be like claiming u got 9 A in o level exams!
no god will accept u if u have not proven yourself to be an angel.
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It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried - Sir Winston Churchill
Well...the majority with veto powers could be quit dangerous...and at times, the majority could go wrong especially when the mass based overly upon emotions, affections, and anger, particularly in the case of countries that are religiously fanatic....and wrought tyrannical decisions or even inhuman actions against the minorities
From such perspective, Calhoun's doctrine of the concurrent majority is a stop gap measure to prevent such veto of the majority's tyrannical suppressions.
In whichever case, extreme political ideologies in which institutions are based would not work when the powers are either held by a few (communism) or the too much (full democracy)...
The middle path is the best..and most pragmatic in my opinion...
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if we r fully democratic on Pastor Rony's case...we r right that he deserved punishments (but it must be politically and socially calculated) ....and if we were to base on personal anger and affections or biases toward certain religions...we are in fact leading ourselves towards a dangerous path - accumulating religious hatred of all kinds....the majority must see the security and stability society in terms of communal, racial and religious harmony as first and foremost than to allow, say, netizens or any lobbyists to raise "majority veto" without in depth social considerations....
this would be no end...and the line divided will be wider...social and religious harmony would, in the long run, be stuffed with deep seated hatred amongst each other...
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for some no matter how you beautify your name
hell is still waiting for you
that person is enjoying life now, but in future worse than a rat
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Originally posted by angel7030:
quitter, like this only, no choice liao...in life, there is a choice...even to die, there is a choice too...jump or slash or take pills etc etc...
For the Taiwanese 'hum' - the only way to die - is to be crushed to death.For the Attention Seeking Whore - everyone will give you all the attention to your exit in a blazing glory to hell.
No one will bother to use the fire extinguisher to douse the flames, but all will add nitro-glycerine with alcohol - to give the Attention Seeking Whore a glorious and explosive exit.
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born celebrate, die celebrate, human are real funny.
I am in my God arm now...as Angel
Only you funny lor, everyday only know how to celebrate. Play, play, play, but don't want to work.
Why you so ah lian, no class lah. I worry for your parents, no one want you then die liao become old hag virgin aunite
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USA is a liberal democracy? No, Americans practise American democracy. A form of democracy that they kept pushing down others' throats instead of letting the locals debate on how democracy can be intergrated into their society.
But at least in their form of democracy, the opposition has a voice and a loud one not like our opposition...oppressed until like that.
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Originally posted by RoyFang:
USA is a liberal democracy? No, Americans practise American democracy. A form of democracy that they kept pushing down others' throats instead of letting the locals debate on how democracy can be intergrated into their society.
But at least in their form of democracy, the opposition has a voice and a loud one not like our opposition...oppressed until like that.
I think American's opposition would be a bad choice of study. Considering ideologically the mainstream and the opposition just isn't that much different.
The European models would be a more accurate idea of what democracy should be like.
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Originally posted by Stevenson101:
I think American's opposition would be a bad choice of study. Considering ideologically the mainstream and the opposition just isn't that much different.
The European models would be a more accurate idea of what democracy should be like.
Hmmm...come to think of it, I agreed.
European opposition parties seems to have more variety of ideologies good or bad.
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Originally posted by Brandon kuan:
born celebrate, die celebrate, human are real funny.
I am in my God arm now...as Angel
Only you funny lor, everyday only know how to celebrate. Play, play, play, but don't want to work.
Why you so ah lian, no class lah. I worry for your parents, no one want you then die liao become old hag virgin aunite
Dun worry for me lah, Dad said if a man worry for you meaning he loves you...i so scare people worry for me... -
Originally posted by angel7030:
Dun worry for me lah, Dad said if a man worry for you meaning he loves you...i so scare people worry for me...People beat you up until u bleed means they love you.... Not worry then love you lol haha
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Dun worry for me lah, Dad said if a man worry for you meaning he loves you...i so scare people worry for me...
Don't scare, my downstair mama shop got an indian man call Uncle Mutu. He is not married, are you interested???
He like bimbo girl eat potatoes chips just like you lor
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spore practice communist democracy