Democracy

What is a democracy? In this essay I will talk about what a democracy is, its advantages, and the
difference between democratic and non-democratic governments. Many people debate about
democracy, whether it is a good form of government or not. Some say that it is important for
citizens to have power over the government, while others criticize this, saying that a country is
kept in better order when run by authorities. Before we begin to talk about this, let us first talk
about what democracy is and why certain countries have chosen it as their form of
government.
Democracy was started in Athens, Greece in the early 5th century. (Gascgoine) Democracy is a
government where the citizens of the country can take part in the decisions that affect the way
their community is run. In other words, they can elect their President, governors, and any other
government leaders. Elections are free and competitive, meaning that any citizen of the
country can have a fair chance to run for office. It is said that “the most powerful, and perhaps
the only means of interesting men in the welfare of their country…..is to make them partakers
in the government.” (Tocqueville 35) In democracies, citizens have the right to free choice,
including freedom of speech and religion. The people must abide by the law, and are not
controlled by a dictator or leader. (“Comparing Governments”)
A good example of a country run by democracy is the United States of America. America was
founded by people who emigrated to the New World from all around the globe. They came in
search of freedom, and so that they could live their lives without being controlled by
government. It was important to them to be able to “speak their mind, associate with their
fellows, enjoy communal resources, locate where they wanted, move occupations and make
use of what was theirs, without reason for fearing anyone or deferring to anyone.” (Pettit)
A democratic government has many advantages because it promotes the welfare of the
greatest possible number. In America, the motto is “equality, freedom, and justice for all.” As
Thurgood Marshall once said, “Where you see wrong or injustice, speak out, because this is
your country…. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.” By giving the citizens a voice in this way, a feeling
of patriotism toward their country is built. The people are willing to fight to the death to keep
their freedom, and because they genuinely love their country, will not stop at anything to
defend her. There are many critics who oppose democracy, calling it “the art and science of
running the circus from the monkey cage”, and there is some truth in that statement. A
democracy can be, and will always be, a messy experiment, so to speak. However, it is obvious
that situations are better for people in countries where they have freedom than those who do
not. As Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the
others.”
 Now let us take a look at types of non-democratic governments. There are many countries run
by Socialism, Communism, and other authoritative regimes. These governments are all
different in their own way, but none of them provide the freedoms that a democracy provides.
Most non-democratic countries are run by a small group of leaders in high power, and the
common peoples’ voice is not heard. There is no freedom of speech, religion, or the press, and
everything is controlled by the government. Examples of these countries include: China, Cuba,
North Korea, and Iran.
Many dictatorships deny their citizens the fundamental freedoms that Americans take for
granted, such as the freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. The common people do not
have an opportunity for professional careers, and many spend their lives slaving in government-
controlled facilities. Because corruption in the government is prevalent, many people receive a
very low wage for their hard work, and live in dire conditions and in poverty. (ENotes) Another
big issue in dictatorships is the freedom of religion. For example, in North Korea, the people are
expected to worship the dictator, and can be punished by death if found to have any other
faith. In some Middle-Eastern countries, people are punished if they do not believe in the
Islamic faith.
I believe that all in all, democracy is a very good form of government, because every human
should have a voice that is heard, and be free to live their lives in the way that they feel is right.
A person should be able to have faith in their God and do what they know is right without their
life being put into jeopardy. I think that many Americans take their freedom for granted, and do
not realize how lucky they really are. I believe that we should never forget the people that are
not as fortunate as us, and continue to thank God every day for his blessings.
Works Cited:
Gascgoine, Bamber. HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing.
White, Stuart/ Seth-smith, Niki. Democratic Wealth: Building a Citizen’s Economy. Oxford,
Cambridge: openDemocracy and Politician Spires. Copyright 2014. PDF file.
Kipling2448. “What are some problems faced in a non-democratic country?” eNotes. 19 May
2017. Web. 18 Sept. 2018.
“Comparing Governments.” American Government Online Textbooks. Copyright 2018. Web. 18
Sept. 2018.
De Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America, Vol.1. London: Saunders and Otley. 1835-1840.
Print.