U.S. Ranked 17th In Democracy

[RestoreGore]

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9282

Sixteen countries ranked more Democratic than the U.S. We are no longer the example to be followed. How sad.
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Mercosur
Thursday, 23 November

Uruguay, only “full democracy” in Latinamerica

Almost half the countries in the world can be classified as democratic but only 28 “full democracies”, which are mostly developed nations with the exception of Uruguay and Costa Rica from Latinamerica according to the latest report from The Economist.

In “The World in 2007”, the British weekly magazine analyzed the level of democracy in 167 countries with the five categories; electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties, maximum of 10 points per each category. The Economist, based on its analysis, classified the countries into four stages of democracy; full democracy, 28 countries; flawed democracy, 54; hybrid democracy, 30; and authoritarian regime, 55.

Although the recent wave of worldwide democratization, only 13% of the world population is considered to be living in ‘full democracy,’ whereas 40% of them are still under authoritarian regime. Sweden is the most democratic country, according to the research, with 9.88 average score. Ireland, 9.71 points, the Netherlands, 9.66, and Norway, 9.55 follow the Scandinavian kingdom. The US is ranked 17th while Japan is 20th and the United Kingdom 23rd.

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South Korea did a fare job; it is ranked as the 31st democratic country among 167 with a ‘flawed democracy.’ Spain is ranked 16, behind Malta and ahead of United States; Portugal is in position 19, Japan and Belgium rank 20 and France 24, followed by Costa Rica, Mauritius Island, Slovenia and Uruguay sharing position 27. The report points out that United States has suffered “a serious erosion of civil liberties” in the context of the war on terrorism and something similar has happened in the UK with a significant declination in political participation.

more at the link.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. um...what is a 'full democracy'? n/t

[RestoreGore]

2. Fair elections?

Do we have those? A media that educates rather than brainwashes? Do we have that? Full participation of the people in the political debate based on reason rather than fear and ignorance? Do we have that? Full respect for the rights of others? Do we have that? The voices of the people being heard over the voices of the buyers? Do we have that? To have all of that in my mind constitutes a full Democracy. And we are FAR from it, and again, that is sad.

[Vorta]

5. ummmm

I don't think so. In a pure democracy the majority rules. Would you like to guess what would happen, even today, if the civil rights laws AND policies were to be put to a popular vote?

[Vidar]

3. Far too high.

[papau]

6. no way we rank ahead of France. Our corporate and rich control of politics makes

French royals look like the poor that have no say.

Add to that the fact that they have Venezuela as 93 - Venezuela -the one place where the poor were actually heard at the ballot box - and you realize that points were taken off if the media is not under right wing rich control, or if industry has a social purpose beyond making the rich richer.

[Vorta]

4. ratings

I love these things. I watched a show where the analyists for one of these ratings systems talked about the "big debate" in the group, which was if they should count as a democracy a country which popularly elected a communist government. They concluded that they should.

I expect that Sweden ranked so high because of the unicameral parliament and the ratio of citizens to MP's, about 26,000/1 compared to our House ratio of 688,000/1. That is my single largest objection to the structure of our government- the cap on the size of The House. This cap was passed about 1910 as I recall, and I have not been able to find the real reason for it or who specifically was behind it. The effect of it has been to give disproportionate power to the smallest states in the Electoral College. Contrary to popular belief and self-serving promotion- this was never the intent of the founding fathers. Were it not for this cap, a Republican would be unlikely to win the presidency.

[papau]

8. Excellent point - the population ratio for the House should not exceed 100,000 to 1, the chamber

expanded to accommodate 4000 representatives (so as to allow for a bit of future population growth).

It would be a bit like Athens in the old days, where they put a noose around your neck, and if your comment was found to be long winded and a waste of time to the others .....

[Vorta]

9. That would be a bit extreme

I do think that the size of The House ought to be expanded to about 1,000 seats, but only if Congressional pensions and benefits are eliminated as well as term limits imposed on both the elected respresentatives and the STAFF as well. I also think that since this larger body would require a new building, it should be built either dead center in the US or in Alaska, someplace where "retired" congressmen are disinclined to hang around after being booted or aging out.

[Founders Know Best]

7. Perhaps we should stay home and perfect our democracy

before we go spreadin it

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Founders Know Best!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[leftofthedial]

10. we haven't been a real democracy since 1963.

maybe earlier than that.

[RestoreGore]

11. The day they killed JFK...

The coup commenced.

[leftofthedial]

12. it definitely came out of the closet

at any rate