Question

Read the following phrases and comment on the thoughts given:

Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they’ve told you what you think it is you want to hear.
Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

Accepted Answer

The first and second thought represents a pessimistic perspective of democracy based on the assumption that Hobbes made in his social contract; men are selfish, nasty, and brutish. Yet in a democracy, everyone has the chance to become masters of their own destiny. It is clear that in the majority of democracies, people have the right to choose their own representatives. Thus, the idea of democracy choosing dictators is unfounded.

The third thought reflects a pragmatic perception of democracy. It takes into account the capacity for justice of human beings but also refuses to discount the capacity for injustice among humans. To reduce or check this capacity for injustice, people, and not a single person, should hold the ultimate power of governance.

The fourth thought suggests that there should be a balance between the form of government and the needs of the individual. The strongest argument for democracy is about what it does to the citizens because democracy as a form of government recognises the needs and enhances the dignity of individuals.

The last thought says that there is a scope for changing the features and activities of democracy according to our needs. Mistakes can be made in a democracy, but the advantage is that there is room for correction as well In this way, the ills of democracy can be cured.

Madhya Pradesh Board Solutions for Chapter: What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?, Exercise 2: read the cartoon

Madhya Pradesh Board Social Science Solutions for Exercise - Madhya Pradesh Board Solutions for Chapter: What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?, Exercise 2: read the cartoon

Questions from Madhya Pradesh Board Solutions for Chapter: What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?, Exercise 2: read the cartoon with Hints & Solutions

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