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There is no best model for democracy. All existing democracies have something good to offer (at least those that allow opposing parties) AND internal flaws.

For example, the United States is one of the best stories of a democracy, and exists as a sort of paragon of democracy in the eyes of many immigrants. It's part of the reason that the U.S. is the "land of opportunity". However, in recent years, U.S. foreign policy and the civil liberties of some minorities (homosexuals in particular) have been degrading. Many democratic countries view the U.S. as an overly religious and backwards state that's drunk on it's hegemony. This said, the U.S remains as a good model of a free nation, it just seems to be undergoing a temporary conservative retrograde.

An alternate example is Britain or any of the Commonwealth democracies (Canada, Australia, etc.). These nations are in my opinion better models for democracy. Each of these states has an apparently greater "freedom to choose," (Rhonda Meadows) than the United States. I can't speak much for Britain or Australia but I know that Canada is a great deal more liberal than the United States in that it has legalized gay marriage. However, these countries are still part of an obsolete monarchy. Canada is moving towards the polarization that has happened in the U.S. due to its large area. And Australia I believe has some racial issues with Muslims and Aborigines. You see, every democracy has flaws.

As for the many other democracies, each with "the freedom to choose", I can't say much for. However, I know that the most democratic model is the direct democracy, which is used in Switzerland. There are problems when this model is used in a large nation, so it's probably not the best model for democracy until we can find a way to make direct democracy more efficient.

Any model for democracy would have to be progressive, respect the rights of the minorities while still obeying the will of the people, and maintain a peaceful and diplomatic foreign policy. We have an obligation to be liberal, democracies are meant to move forward and lead the world to a state of universal freedom (with reason, of course).

Learn more about this author, Jack Rax.
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