Feels like this would fit here.

"Georgians join mass rally as president urges them to protest 'rigged vote'" --- Group votes require massive trust in the counters, and are easily rigged creating this massive problem

"Hundreds of ballots in drop-off ballot box lit on fire and destroyed in Clark County, Washington state in arson attack" --- Systems of individual choice cannot be so easily subverted.

Georgia is EXACTLY What Russia Wanted from Ukraine in 2014

"Georgia is EXACTLY What Russia Wanted from Ukraine in 2014" --- Georgian election easily subverted by Russian influence. Who counts the votes is what matters.

An image I got from r/chile for the recent elections for governors and mayors, Politicians who only appear at the time of the campaign, politicians who focus on taking advantage of their position to enrich themselves. I hope that one day this system will change in true favor of the people.

Btw 3,000,000 people (from 20.000.000 in total) have so far voted null or blank, it represents the lack of faith and exhaustion that exists in this modern democracy. There are only two sides and neither of them really live up to their promises, nothing changes, it is always the same people who remain in power.

<div class="md"><p>An image I got from <a href="/r/chile">r/chile</a> for the recent elections for governors and mayors, Politicians who only appear at the time of the campaign, politicians who focus on taking advantage of their position to enrich themselves. I hope that one day this system will change in true favor of the people.</p>

<p>Btw 3,000,000 people (from 20.000.000 in total) have so far voted null or blank, it represents the lack of faith and exhaustion that exists in this modern democracy. There are only two sides and neither of them really live up to their promises, nothing changes, it is always the same people who remain in power.</p>
</div>

Sad Reality in Chile

America’s Last Election Part 2: The fake elector plot | If You’re Listening

<div class="md"></div>

Democracy came down to one man refusing to do something corrupt, else Trump may have secured another term last time: "America’s Last Election Part 2: The fake elector plot"

Right in the ballot box

Stuff like this attacks faith in democracy, which requires a large amount of trust in the people conducting the elections in an environment with a high incentive to cheat. Requiring huge amounts of trust is a flaw of democracy. A better system minimizes trust required.

This is some next level election BS

“…all states throughout history…”

Can You Steal An Election? | America, Are You OK?

Look how terrible democracy is: "Can You Steal An Election? | America, Are You OK?"

Its odd that *election* sounds so much like *erection* because the exact opposite thing happens to me. The bots all over reddit spam such nonsense constantly while youtube ads on every fkn video dramatically remind us about the terrible-ness of the other candidate. I just want to crawl in a hole and never talk to anybody ever again. Like we get it, both of these lousy jackals sucks ass.

Meanwhile, the subtle part of the whole thing, there's these get out and vote campaigns. Can you imagine? Because your vote is crucial to determine which ever of these two scum bags is not the worst. Obviously the implication that we, as voters, are in control of this "*democracy*" is a complete sham. I don't see how any breathing person doesn't see thru the ruse.

This is why I dont even blame the oligarchy. It's "*the people*". The plebs continue to participate giving this process dignity it doesn't deserve.

Lets start PAC which tells ppl not to vote.

<div class="md"><p>Its odd that <em>election</em> sounds so much like <em>erection</em> because the exact opposite thing happens to me. The bots all over reddit spam such nonsense constantly while youtube ads on every fkn video dramatically remind us about the terrible-ness of the other candidate. I just want to crawl in a hole and never talk to anybody ever again. Like we get it, both of these lousy jackals sucks ass.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the subtle part of the whole thing, there&#39;s these get out and vote campaigns. Can you imagine? Because your vote is crucial to determine which ever of these two scum bags is not the worst. Obviously the implication that we, as voters, are in control of this &quot;<em>democracy</em>&quot; is a complete sham. I don&#39;t see how any breathing person doesn&#39;t see thru the ruse.</p>

<p>This is why I dont even blame the oligarchy. It&#39;s &quot;<em>the people</em>&quot;. The plebs continue to participate giving this process dignity it doesn&#39;t deserve.</p>

<p>Lets start PAC which tells ppl not to vote.</p>
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Can this election just happen already??

My post on r/austrian_economics that I think also fits here 

I can acknowledge that the US political system is in a state of total disarray. But I don't think the type of politics is the problem. 

In my opinion, capitalism and anti socialist sentiments promotes a strong self interest w/o emphasizing participation in improving/benefiting society. This disconnect allows people to justify predatory/deceptive business practices, rampant greed, and ultimately, an indifference to the broader world 's injustice. A "survival of the slickest"  attitude obsessed with immediate or short term gains prevails. 

The approach made to economic pursuit in modern capitalism and political participation in democracy are often the same. This is a costly error.
A functional democracy makes certain demands, on the state and the citizen, integral to the procedure and effectiveness. 

1. Understanding of the political system 
2. Recognition and protection of citizen rights and privileges 
3. Historical consciousness of the modern era
4. An engaged and informed citizenry on current events 
5. Strong societal trust and local communities 

 Failure to meet these demands can be directly connected to the structure and incentives of our economy and is exacerbated by the many distractions available by social media, tv, personal cell phones, Internet etc. 

If this is not rectified, then I predict the great American democratic experiment will meet a comparable abrupt end as the Roman Republic. At the hands of a entrenched and defiant leader willing to use force to overthrow the results of an unfavorable democratic election. 



 

<div class="md"><p>I can acknowledge that the US political system is in a state of total disarray. But I don&#39;t think the type of politics is the problem. </p>

<p>In my opinion, capitalism and anti socialist sentiments promotes a strong self interest w/o emphasizing participation in improving/benefiting society. This disconnect allows people to justify predatory/deceptive business practices, rampant greed, and ultimately, an indifference to the broader world &#39;s injustice. A &quot;survival of the slickest&quot;  attitude obsessed with immediate or short term gains prevails. </p>

<p>The approach made to economic pursuit in modern capitalism and political participation in democracy are often the same. This is a costly error.
A functional democracy makes certain demands, on the state and the citizen, integral to the procedure and effectiveness. </p>

<ol>
<li>Understanding of the political system </li>
<li>Recognition and protection of citizen rights and privileges </li>
<li>Historical consciousness of the modern era</li>
<li>An engaged and informed citizenry on current events </li>
<li><p>Strong societal trust and local communities </p>

<p>Failure to meet these demands can be directly connected to the structure and incentives of our economy and is exacerbated by the many distractions available by social media, tv, personal cell phones, Internet etc. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>If this is not rectified, then I predict the great American democratic experiment will meet a comparable abrupt end as the Roman Republic. At the hands of a entrenched and defiant leader willing to use force to overthrow the results of an unfavorable democratic election. </p>
</div>

Broken political system result of tension between democracy and capitalism? 

Democracy may, after all, turn out to have been a historical accident, a brief parenthesis that is closing before our eyes. […] Democracy probably could have endured had it been the only type of political organization in the world. But it is not basically structured to defend itself against outside enemies seeking its annihilation. […]

It tends to ignore, even deny, threats to its existence because it loathes doing what is needed to counter them. It awakens only when the danger becomes deadly, imminent, evident. By then, either there is too little time left for it to save itself, or the price of survival has become crushingly high.

In addition to its external enemy, democracy faces an internal enemy whose right to exist is written into the law itself. Totalitarianism liquidates its internal enemies or smashes opposition as soon as it arises; it uses methods that are simple and infallible because they are undemocratic. But democracy can defend itself only very feebly; its internal enemy has an easy time of it because he exploits the right to disagree that is inherent to democracy. […]

The frontier is vague, the transition easy between the status of a loyal opponent wielding a privilege built into democratic institutions and that of an adversary subverting those institutions. […] What we end up with in western society is a topsy-turvy situation in which those seeking to destroy democracy appear to be fighting legitimate aims, while its defenders are pictured as repressive reactionaries. […]

The democracies are also harassed by guilt-producing accusations and intimidation that no other political system has had to tolerate. […] The democratic civilization is the first one to blame itself because another power is working to destroy it. […]

Democracy is not given credit for its achievements and benefits, but pays an infinitely higher price for its failures, its inadequacies and its mistakes than its adversaries do. It seems, then, that the combination of forces —at once psychological and material, political and moral, economic and ideological— intent on the extinction of democracy is more powerful than those forces bent on keeping it alive.

(Excerpts from Jean-François Revel's "How Democracies Perish" (Comment les démocraties finissent, 1983), dealing with the vulnerabilities of democratic societies in the context of the Cold War)

<div class="md"><p>Democracy may, after all, turn out to have been a historical accident, a brief parenthesis that is closing before our eyes. […] Democracy probably could have endured had it been the only type of political organization in the world. But it is not basically structured to defend itself against outside enemies seeking its annihilation. […]</p>

<p>It tends to ignore, even deny, threats to its existence because it loathes doing what is needed to counter them. It awakens only when the danger becomes deadly, imminent, evident. By then, either there is too little time left for it to save itself, or the price of survival has become crushingly high.</p>

<p>In addition to its external enemy, democracy faces an internal enemy whose right to exist is written into the law itself. Totalitarianism liquidates its internal enemies or smashes opposition as soon as it arises; it uses methods that are simple and infallible because they are undemocratic. But democracy can defend itself only very feebly; its internal enemy has an easy time of it because he exploits the right to disagree that is inherent to democracy. […]</p>

<p>The frontier is vague, the transition easy between the status of a loyal opponent wielding a privilege built into democratic institutions and that of an adversary subverting those institutions. […] What we end up with in western society is a topsy-turvy situation in which those seeking to destroy democracy appear to be fighting legitimate aims, while its defenders are pictured as repressive reactionaries. […]</p>

<p>The democracies are also harassed by guilt-producing accusations and intimidation that no other political system has had to tolerate. […] The democratic civilization is the first one to blame itself because another power is working to destroy it. […]</p>

<p>Democracy is not given credit for its achievements and benefits, but pays an infinitely higher price for its failures, its inadequacies and its mistakes than its adversaries do. It seems, then, that the combination of forces —at once psychological and material, political and moral, economic and ideological— intent on the extinction of democracy is more powerful than those forces bent on keeping it alive.</p>

<p>(Excerpts from Jean-François Revel&#39;s &quot;How Democracies Perish&quot; (Comment les démocraties finissent, 1983), dealing with the vulnerabilities of democratic societies in the context of the Cold War)</p>
</div>

How Democracies Perish [Jean-François Revel]

A recent study found that anti-democratic tendencies in the US are not evenly distributed across the political spectrum. According to the research, conservatives exhibit stronger anti-democratic attitudes than liberals.

I know this is an anarchist sub.  Even so, can you think of any form of government that is better than a deeply flawed democratic republic, assuming there will continue to be more or less the same size and scope of government?  What would you want and why is it better?

<div class="md"><p>I know this is an anarchist sub.  Even so, can you think of any form of government that is better than a deeply flawed democratic republic, assuming there will continue to be more or less the same size and scope of government?  What would you want and why is it better?</p>
</div>

Suppose that you could end the democratic republic but still have a government of the same size and scope. What alternative to democracy would you want?

TIL that former President of Liberia Charles King has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the most fraudulent election in history. In the 1927 election, he secured victory with 234,000 votes in a country with a population of only 15,000.

Liberty > Democracy

"Sen. Mike Braun said interracial marriage ruling should be left to states" --- And thus dies the argument for States' rights. Democracy is contemptible. Imagine putting your basic rights and freedom to choose in the hands of politicians on every issue. They think states can legislate anything.

Seems familiar somehow...

I didn't sign a social contract.

The uncertain future of democracy

Six paradoxes of democracy

Six Paradoxes of Democracy by J.J. McCullough

Plutocracy

S. Korea’s nuclear plants continue to close because previous administration was anti-nuclear and did nothing to keep them going