Democracy

[Viva Fidel]

How do you define it,

and

is a communist society an example of it pure democracy (i know communist isnt dictatorship, at all)?



some argue that democracy is a government chosen by the people, but in a communist society there is no government

[LSD]

How do you define it

Democracy is, in simplest terms, direct societal participatory governance by all capable members of society.


is a communist society an example of it pure democracy

Yes! :)


some argue that democracy is a government chosen by the people, but in a communist society there is no government

The people who argue that are confusing several similar terms. A government "chosen by the people" is a form of elite rule called "liberal democracy", or more correctly representative republicanism.

Actual democracy, by definition, has no institutionalized government whatsover.

[anomaly]

The term 'government' receives a lot of undue negative criticism on the left, it seems. In essence, we must remember that the 'government' is simply that body which determines policy. And there is no reason that this governing body cannot be the people themselves.

What communist society will lack, and for very good reason, is a State- a rigid, authoritative mechanism of hierarchy. Communism will employ, as LSD mentions, direct democracy.

Also, I think this 'communist democracy' will likely make decisions of far less impact than do today's governments.

[BobKKKindle$]

For Socialists, Democracy means that the The Means of production are organised through Workers Councils that are run on the basis of Direct participation and democracy.

Socialists Genreally reject the Bourgeois system of politics based upon political parties and national legislative assemblies, and call for power to be based on a grass roots (from the bottom up, so to speak) structure.

Under Capitalists Society, Democracy is very much the ability to choose which representive of the ruling class is in power for a period of 5 years - kind of like shopping for cereal at the supermarket - the packaging may look differemt, they tastes may not be identical, but at the end of the day its the same Crap ;)

[Morpheus]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2006, 03:33 AM
The term 'government' receives a lot of undue negative criticism on the left, it seems. In essence, we must remember that the 'government' is simply that body which determines policy. And there is no reason that this governing body cannot be the people themselves.
That's a strange statement for someone with a cirlce-A as his avatar. If everyone rules then no one rules and there is no government. Using the word "government" to describe an anarchistic way of organizing society (like a confederation of popular assemblies or a system of workers' councils) is very dangerious because it obscures the clear difference between the state/government and anarchy, making it easier for statist to spread their ideology. Modern advocates of a state are always attempting to make their ideas seem democratic, anti-authoritarian and/or egalitarian (see Lenin's State and Revolution for a well known example). Using the term government to describe our anti-authoritarian system is very dangerous because it allows more authoritarian ideologies to masquerade as being more libertarian, making a repeat of Bolshevism or other statist ideologies more likely.

[anomaly]

I'm simply pointing out that the call for 'anarchy with no rules', in other words, chaos--which is senseless--is based on this myth of 'government' and 'rules' being absolutely evil.

However, I realize your concern.

But I've talked with you before. You should know what I mean.