by Kyle Allen

Created on: June 23, 2007

One cannot approach the question of whether or not any particular political system is "the best method" for every-or ANY-country without a clear standard for what constitutes an improvement. "Best" for whom, exactly? Best for the nation's overall economy in terms of gross domestic product? Best for the standard of living of the majority of the people? Best for standards of human rights and internal security? Best for political stability? Best for the private agenda of a ruling, powerful minority? Best for the peculiar interests of the world's only remaining superpower?

The question is bigger than we realize, considering that by some of these criterion, democracy is not even the best method for the United States of America. Specifically, as far as the existing power structure of the wealthy elites who have run this nation since the Founding Fathers, Democracy in its most pure form is a terrifying prospect. In a nation where ten percent of its people own seventy percent of its wealth, the ruling class will take action to enhance the prosperity of the majority, not out of benevolence or duty, but as a concession, like a man who feeds his dog just enough to keep it from turning on him.

On the other hand, from other perspectives, democracy-true democracy-may be the people's only hope. In many nations around the world, the principle of uncontested rule by wealthy elites at the expense of the poor and starving is as institutionalized today as it was in the United States a century ago. The same fear of disposition that terrifies the ruling elites of those countries thrills those in the lower rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. After all, if everyone is given a voice regardless of age, sex, race or the size of their bank account, then the people at the bottom have a chance to change the direction of their government for their own benefit, just by sheer weight of numbers. They can force the passing of laws for social problems, helping the poor get food and shelter, helping younger generations get access to education and medical treatment that would otherwise only be available to the very wealthy. They can force the government to enact economic policies that benefit everyone in the nation, not just (or possibly, at the expense of) the wealthiest ten percent of the elite.

Still, viewed from the perspective of the elites, democracy is a terrible idea. What's true for the elites is equally true of an ambitious clique of imperialists with aspirations of a new Pax Americana. History

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