Democracy: Best Form of Government?
Source: nynytours.com
Is democracy good or bad? Should we get to vote on every issue? Would it be better to have a king or queen? Why or why not? Why is democracy preferred to monarchy?
First, democracies come in many forms, but I will consider only two. In a pure or direct democracy, every person who wishes votes on every action the government takes. In a representative or liberal democracy (see also republican government), voters choose representatives who then vote on their behalf on government action. Which form do we have?
At the Founding, we had a representative democracy, but now we have a pure-representative democracy mixture. In some states, the people vote on ballot initiatives or even recall elected officials. The Founders were against pure democracy because they believed that the most educated, wise people should make important decisions involving complex political questions.
I agree with this opinion. I currently live in California where we have many ballot initiatives. I am in a public policy grad program, and I still don’t understand all the implications of these initiatives. Except for maybe super significant issues such as defining marriage, I would prefer that my representatives do what I pay them to do: make decisions for me, and I’ll let them know when I do have an opinion on any pending issues.
Now, let’s examine Mosiah 29:12-27. This passage outlines 7 points that illustrate why democracies are preferred to monarchies.
1. Just kings are good. “…if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings…then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you.” (12-13)
2. Not all kings are just. “…because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.” (16)
3. Wicked kings cause great destruction. “…how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!” (17)
4. Dethroning a king costs much blood. “…ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood.” (21)
5. Let the people decide. “…choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws…” (25)
6. The majority generally chooses the right. “…it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right…It is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right.” (26)
7. If the people do choose evil, then great destruction will follow. “…if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you…great destruction…” (27)
(Go here to read a much more detailed and interesting version.)
To summarize, representative democracies are the best form of government in our day, but with the privilege to participate in government comes great responsibility; if, as a people, we don’t choose to be righteous, then destruction will follow. Go vote tomorrow and choose to be righteous.
Democracy is definitely not the best form of government. People don’t know much about politics and aren’t informed and there’s too much contention. It’s also too hard to get anything done. I think a good king or queen gets the job done just fine. Look at Britain. They’ve had royalty forever and seem to get along fine. One or a few good people leading a government would be much more effective.
Comment by monarchist — October 30, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
The Book of Mormon offers ample examples of why monarchy is not better than democracy. Democracy is imperfect because people are imperfect, but it’s the best form of government for a fallen world. Also, Britian is a great example of successful democracy. Back in the days when the monarch actually did something, they had plenty of problems as a result.
Comment by Archibald — October 30, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
Democracy is NOT the best form of government–read the Federalist Papers and what Madison has to say about democracy versus a republic. Read Aristotle and see what he has to say about a republic versus a democracy. The United States should be a republic, not a democracy. I.e., representative government where powers are checked and balanced in different departments, not where people hold direct control of everything in the country.
Comment by erdoch — May 31, 2007 @ 3:10 pm