Personally I don't believe that there is such a thing as Real Democracy.
Particularly not in those countries that talk about it the most.

Plus, democracy is dependent on people having a reasonable level of education and taking an interest in politics.

And another reason why democracy is something of an illusion:

Anyone who's got mass media on their side can make people believe their side of the story.
And then tell people that it is "free media", "Правда" or whatever you like, just to further enhance the illusion that your propaganda is objective news. It tricks people.

This is a terrible threat to democracy, because it means you can manipulate the voters if you control media. The state can control media through various subtle or not so subtle means. Corporate interests can control media through various means. Some kind of cultural elite controls aspects of media in some countries.

Then there are lobbyists in many countries, lobbying politicians after they have been elected. This too is undemocratic.

And large corporations or very rich individuals contributing to the election campaigns of the political party that they would like to see winning.

In this kind of environment you don't even need to bother with something as obvious as ballot box stuffing.....

I actually believe that democracy is one of the biggest hoaxes in the modern world.

Quote Originally Posted by Doomer
Yes
The only problem is an average Russian believes that with "real democracy" corruption will magically go away
But according to many Russians here, Russians in general believe that democracy is crap, and is responsible for the difficulties in the 1990s.

A "good" dictator could also get rid of corruption, by starting a zero tolerance policy. Lee Kuan Yew did that in Singapore. Of course, good dictators are dangerous, because they can turn bad so easily...


Quote Originally Posted by Deborski View Post
Yeah it's like this:

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All we can do is hope that sanity prevails! And I believe it will. I have to believe that.
Too right! That is just not the way, and you'd have to have had your brain completely washed inside out to think that democracy is achieved by one kickass country going to a country on the other side of the planet and forcing the "democracy" on them at gunpoint....

The UK is just as bad, I should say, because they are mainly in these wars to impress America... and then they are constantly talking about "winning the hearts and minds" of local people in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yeah right.... come with an armored tank and shoot at wedding parties and goatherds, and pee on them on youtube..... Then get surprised that you don't manage to "win their hearts and minds".