"democracy"

From: Curt Howland (Howland_at_priss.com)
Date: 11/14/04

  • Next message: Alexandru Cabuz: "Re: why debian"
    To: Antonio Rodriguez <arodriguez31@cfl.rr.com>
    Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 12:12:00 -0500
    
    

    Luckily, Debian isn't a democracy. It's a voluntary association. That
    is the reason that I began using the Debian distribution in the first
    place.

    Unlike a democracy, the "majority" cannot force its views on the
    "minority". Anyone who doesn't like the Debian policies, or the
    election or decisions of a leader, can choose not to contribute any
    more, or to walk away completely at very little or no cost to
    themselves. If you try to do that in a real democracy you go to
    prison, because you live at the sufferance of the "majority". That is
    the lesson of Socrates.

    "The State was a Mistake"
    http://www.mises.org/fullstory.aspx?control=1522

    You might enjoy Hans Hermann Hoppe's book, _Democracy, The God That
    Failed_.
    http://www.mises.org/misesreview_detail.asp?control=199&sortorder=issue

    "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can
    only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves
    largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority
    always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the
    public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses
    over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The
    average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.
    These nations have progressed through this sequence: "From bondage to
    spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage
    to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness;
    From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From
    dependence back into bondage."
     
    ~Alexander Fraser Tytler (later Lord Alexander Fraser Woodhouslee),
     in "The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic," published 1776.

    Curt-

    -- 
    September 11th, 2001
    The proudest day for gun control and central 
    planning advocates in American history
    

  • Next message: Alexandru Cabuz: "Re: why debian"

    Relevant Pages

    • Re: Definition of "rich"?
      ... You've showed me only your personal bias and confidence in democracy. ... A democracy rule as the majority wants. ... The biggest form of welfare it is grabbing the wealth from creator and give ... idiots (politicians) will inevitable find a way around it. ...
      (sci.econ)
    • Re: Where to smoke in LA and Seattle
      ... Democracy is mob rule, whereas in a Republic, the ... minority is SUPPOSED to be protected from the whims of the majority? ... They've already outlawed serving raw eggs in California. ...
      (alt.smokers.cigars)
    • Re: We, the people
      ... Nobody is claiming that it is not; ... the opposition had the fewest people who went to ... > doesn't fit any definition of fair or democracy I know. ... >> representatives of marginalized sectors - and therefore not the majority. ...
      (soc.culture.filipino)
    • Re: Bush Admits Hes Insane!
      ... >the majority, the minority is expected to accept the decision and get ... >their minority decision has been rejected, there can be no democracy. ... overthrow of the government or killing its officials. ...
      (rec.sport.golf)
    • Re: Utah anti-evolution bill filed
      ... >> You're describing mob-rule, not democracy. ... > Where, exactly, does democracy require that the majority may not ... > disregard the interests and rights of the minorities? ... retaining the vote is less than a majority of the society. ...
      (talk.origins)