Author Question: In your opinion, is representative democracy or direct democracy preferable? Based on your answers, ... (Read 115 times)

rl · **on:** Jul 10, 2018

In your opinion, is representative democracy or direct democracy preferable? Based on your answers, what changes would you make to the American political system?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

If you were to debate critics of liberal democracy, how would you respond to their most common criticisms?

What will be an ideal response?

at · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 10, 2018

Answer to Question 1

An ideal response will:
1, Distinguish between representative and direct democracies. In a representative democracy, the people select leaders who make policies, whereas in a direct democracy, the people meet to discuss issues of the day and to make policy.
2, Argue the advantages of the chosen democracy. For example, if arguing that representative democracy is preferable, the answer would note that direct democracy is not feasible in a largely populated country. Further, if citizens are not well-informed and participation rates are low, itwill undermine the popular sovereignty that direct democracy espouses to promote. If arguing in favor of direct democracy, the answer should discuss how this form of democracy increases popular sovereignty because it allows the people to discuss and decide on issues.
3, Describe how the American political system might benefit from encouraging direct democracy at the state or local level, but representative democracy is preferable nationally.

Answer to Question 2

An ideal response will:
1, Note that critics of liberal democracy argue that the majority can threaten liberty, that the people are irrational and incompetent, and that majoritarian democracy threatens minorities.
2, Indicate that despite these concerns, liberal democracies are better than alternatives.
3, Provide a response to each of the contentions of critics. For example, while critics note that the majority can threaten the liberty of the minority, the alternative is minority tyranny, which would mean that the minority tyrannizes the majority. Moreover, there is limited evidence that the majority consistently tyrannizes the minority. Alternatives to liberal democracies would not protect minorities to a greater extent.
4, Discuss how despite claims that the people are irrational and incompetent, there is evidence that the public is more informed, sophisticated, and stable than has been asserted.