Beware the Democratic Freedom Parties: the controller updates.
Is your country ‘really’ democratic?
We at Goodbye have provided a list and commentary on those that are, are not, want to be or have no interest at all in being democracies. If you can come up with any more suggestions we’d love to hear from you.
With all these counties’ citizens (Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, Albania, Algeria…) coming out of the woodwork with screams, protests, rants and raves for something called freedom and democracy, I pose the question: how can you tell if a country, govnt, or leader, is or isn’t democratic?
I know what you’re thinking. There are obvious signs. But what if you were to find a way to get straight to the meat and veg of it? No mucking about?
So I have devised a sure-fire way to tell, and then yell, when your country is not being democratic.
“Any political party that includes the adjective ‘democratic’ or any other such synonym in its name, isn’t.”
So let’s get down to it:
Political Parties that are absolutely Non Democratic in Nature:
Costa Rica: with The Democratic Force, Italy: the people of Freedom Party, Albania: the Democratic Party of Albania, Algeria: the National Liberation Front and National Rally for Democracy, Andorra: Democratic Renewal, Madagascar, Malawi and Morocco which has the Front of the Democratic Forces, Austria: the Freedom Party, Burma: the Democratic Party for a new society and Cambodia – while of course having a ‘democratic’ party, also has – and this is a new one we should add to the list of one’s to watch out for- the Human Rights Party.
Cameroon: five of the six main parties in Cameroon use democratic in their title, all slightly differently, with a Union here, a Front there, a Movement, Progress and Development somewhere, just to mix it up a bit. So be very very, very concerned Cameroonians!
Angola: the Liberal Democratic Party/The National Front for the Liberation of Angola. Also beware countries that have the audacity to put the lethal ‘democratic’ adjective in the very name of their country. The Democratic Republic of Congo ring any alarm bells?
Ghana leaves no holes barred with: the Democratic Freedom Party, just in case you didn’t get the point. So beware the double up on adjectives. Very suspect. Beware also Progressive Democratic, Liberal Democratic or Social Democratic Party double adjectives.
Also be very concerned if you have a ‘Christian Democratic Party.’ We wonder how ‘Christianesk’ they really are? Or the Maldives with the, Islamic Democratic Party. More or less of the same thing. You have the right to believe what you’re told and do what you’re told or else! In this life and the next. Should we not call these parties the ‘Hypo-demogodcracies’?
It should also be mentioned that countries that are renowned tax havens, like Luxemburg and Monoco, tend to have ‘democratic’ parties.
Indonesia: the Democratic Party Struggle. At least they admit it’s not all easy sailing trying to be democratic, and we respect them for that.
In Mexico you even have one party called the ‘Democratic Revolution’. Well the people may live in hope.
‘The Patriotic Salvation Movement’ stands out for us in Chad, and no we are not joking, this is a parliamentary party amongst the many ‘democratic’ adjectives in parties in Chad. I mean one thing is a fake democracy shoving fabricated freedom fodder down your neck, another is the promise of salvation from its party leaders on top of it. Be afraid Chadians, be very afraid.
China, of course, has many a democratic name to its United Communist State Controlled Party. But you know this is far too much stating the obvious.
And to finish off of course we have the United States. It is true the adjective ‘democratic’ is not used by any party. But as all parties have hyped up, played on, and globally marketed and fed the American spiel on democracy down the rest of the world’s throats while supporting dictatorships and underhandingly invading numerous countries since the end of the second world war, we think they fit the list.
So let’s move on to the much less obvious and very hard to find:
Parties that perhaps are democratic, and so don’t need to prove it.
‘The Possibly Democratic Parties’, or ‘Those who don’t go OTT on the word Democracy.’
Mali has a party for ‘Democratic Initiative’. Actually I don’t mind the sound of that. It’s like saying, we’re not there yet, but it is our objective.
Evidently Muslim countries with Islamic governments in place need not apply to either list as they don’t believe in pretending to be democratic on any level. Allah is definitely in power here so we respect their parties’ lack of hypocrisy, if nothing else.
Australia: Liberal, Labor, national and Green Parties. We have something of a result.
New Zealand, Liechtenstein and Kiribati. I know you’ve never heard of Kiribati. Probably nor has anyone else of great importance so perhaps ruling powers turn a blind eye on this evidently peaceful nation, obviously tiny and lacking minerals or oil? Maybe they can afford to be democratic?
Don’t believe me? Well I did a little research into this little South Pacific country. According to the World Bank, Kiribati holds least developed country status and its ‘interests’ rarely extend beyond the region. Kiribati maintains good relations with most countries, in particular its pacific neighbors Australia, New Zealand and Japan. In 1995 Kiribati suspended its relations with France over their decision to renew nuclear testing in the South Pacific. You tell em Kiribati and stand your ground. You may not be powerful, but you sound like a democracy to me (case in point really).
Great Britain: ok well there’s always one false friend in there. Greece: yes the founding fathers in many ways of governmental systems have no such adjectives, even if the leading conservative party is called ‘New Democracy’ which makes us feel a bit squeamish, and corruption in government is so rife it makes Italy’s parliament look sober.
Ireland: result!, even if the government has not been helping its people out lately, Greenland, Israel: ok they may not seem so free or liberal to the Palestinians, but they are particularly democratic where Israeli’s are concerned. We may thus pose the question: can an active democracy go too far? But that’s for another day.
France, with the exception of one small centralist party, the French, whose national motto is liberty,equality and fraternity after all, evidently don’t need to work on their adjectives. They won’t be fooled. If their leaders don’t work for them, they’ll cut off their heads! There’s a lot we could learn from the French so watch out Sarkozy. If you do wrong by the Frenchies, it’s the guillotine for you.
French Polynesia: ‘This Country is Yours’ and ‘The People’s Servant’ are the names of just some of this countries’ parliamentary parties. Obviously the French effect has rubbed off and we do like the originality .
The European Union nearly joined our list, having many parties and only one with ‘democratic’ as their adjective. This may have to be addressed if the EU is to move forward and avoid a people’s revolution sometime down the line.
Denmark -and it’s got quite a few parties there. While they have a party called the Democrats, no democratic, freedom or other such adjectives: lucky Danes.
Prince Edward Island (nowhere else in Canada, I’m afraid, and the regal name of the Island itself whiffs of anti democratic spirit) has the PEI Liberal Party and Progressive Conservative Party. I know. What exactly is progressive about the word Conservative? But that is another issue for a future study.
So. Very few and slightly dubious at that.
If you have some examples of your ‘democracy’ adjectified party doing some very ‘undemocratic’ things, let us know and then we can organise a protest within your country to force them to, at the very least, change their name. Of course to do this we must offer alternative solutions.
Possible Alternative solutions: the Slightly Democratic party, the Not Particularly Free party, the Party More Democratic than Iran, the WOI – Working On It- Party, and so forth.
Tags: Albania, Algeria, america, Australia, Canada, Chad, china, Costa Rica, democracy, democratic parties, Denmark, Egyptian protests, England, EU, European Union, france, freedom, French Polynesia, French revolution, Greece, Greenland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, italy, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Madagasca, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Monoco, Morocco, New Zealand, Palestine, political parties, Politics, Prince Edward Island, Tunisian protests, USA, Yemen
hahahahahaha GOOD ONE! HAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa….seriously though, no.
Our founders had a well founded distain of democracy. It is nothing more than “organized mob rule.” Frankli said, “Democracy is two wolves and a sheep decided what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed sheep constesting the vote.” That is why I proudly say I do NOT live in a democracy, but a Republic.
Not for long if the Tea Baggers aren’t put in their place, which would be as far from the USA as possible.
Not really. My country is run by an oligarchy of highly moneyed businesses and individuals with their own agendas and they actually pull the vast majority of the strings. It tried to be democratic – or rather a republic – and it kind of looks like one, but if you dig enough, it mostly isn’t.
The DNC stealing the undecided votes from the primary in Michigan and giving them all to Obama so he could win the primary. Makes me question how many other elections were stolen?
We are a republic that uses the democratic process to elect our officials. (In theory of course)
Dunno, especially now that the Congress and bo Administration are trying to retain the Patriot Act until 2013, and Federal Judges are being so liberal with the constitutionality of the Governments encroachment into citizens lives.
AMerica is a corporatracy
We are Democratic in appearance only! Our choices are being taken away.
We’re actually a constitutional republic, not a direct democracy.
We should have a democracy.
Well our founders had a well founded distain of democracy. It is nothing more than “organized mob rule.” Frankli said, “Democracy is two wolves and a sheep decided what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well armed sheep constesting the vote.” That is why I proudly say I do NOT live in a democracy, but a Republic.
WE TRY, BUT THE REPUBLICANS KEEP FUCKING THINGS UP
The USA may be under assault currently by faux liberals, statists and creeping Sharia merchants, but all things considered, we are still the best example of perhaps flawed democracy on the planet. Europe may think it is, but it is throttled by PC, nanny state suffocation, and increasing Islamic inroads. The Scandinavian countries are state control gone mad. A look around the rest of the world affords no comfort: kleptocrat thugs in Russia, China and elsewhere; Islamic tyranny in Iran and the Middle East; caudillismo (Chávez in Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia), and inept, corrupt government everywhere, Africa being a sad example. Possible exceptions: Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and, to a lesser extent, Brazil. Canada is weak and “liberal”, steadily caving in to Sharia thinking. I cannot speak about, say, Tonga or the Isle of Man, if you’ll permit a moment of quiet humour, but I dare say they are not democratic paradises…
The USA is more democratic than most but is rapidly turning into a police state ,.
world is facist already
And the USA will BORROW MONEY TO GIVE IT TO THEM…..
While we live in what is called a “republic” and I seriously doubt anyone takes that to heart…especially our elected officials because our country is not by “we the people” anymore. With that said, the one party that is in control exercises tyranny and that is my feeling towards the Democrats in American…shove, shove and ram. That is all they know…get rid of the tyrannizing dogs!! i don’t care what name they go by!
The fact that we can complain and whine about not having what we gave away proves we are a democratic state. Very goofy right now with the likes of Palin staring at us at every turn. We are self absorbed, spoiled and not very intellectual. Religion is replacing reason, hate is replacing clarity of thinking, inaction or abridging of rights are replacing compassion. That can only be done in a self destructive democratic state.
“Any political party that includes the adjective ‘democratic’ or any other such synonym in its name, isn’t.”
the U.S.A. a poor example of a so called democracy.
Well…in a true democracy the majority rules…America is supposed to be a representative republic. However, lately it’s being governed by executive order and regulations put in place by unelected bureaucrats who seem to enjoy wrapping everything is lots of red tape.
Yes it is a democracy! At least we are lucky enough to live here. A lot of people would love tro trade places with any American!!!
We have bipartisan elected representatives, neither of which is representing us !
It is indeed a sad state of affairs….
Questions about democracy and what constitutes a democracy all ways get my attention. First let me say right up from that I find very few people who have the slightest idea what a democracy is and what it isn’t.
In order to understand anything, especially ideological philosophy is is necessary to start with it’s origins and conception. I hear terms like Athenian Democracy, used as one type of democracy.
I beg to differ. Anything that varies from democracy in it’s original form isn’t democracy.
Athenian democracy was designed to eliminate politics in governance, and prohibit political coalitions. No elections were held for office holders or Senators if you will, they were chosen by lot. All citizens were obliged to serve and so most Athenians could expect to serve at one time or another as a Senator. The purpose was to involve all of the citizens in their governments.on an equal basis. Casting lots assured that all segments of the population were equally represented.
Every individual had a right to speak his mind in or outside the Government, but no man spoke for any other man or coalition of men. Any man or senator caught forming such coalitions or alliances to influence the votes on issues before the Senate was exiled from Athens and all their worldly goods forfeited.
Now, wit…
Brilliant comment. Thanks for that educational and indepth historical defintion!!
Actually we’re a republic. If we were a democracy, all citizens would vote for the budget, laws, executive procedures, judicial and ear-marks directly. In a republic, we vote for representitives who determine the budget, laws, … Currently WE do have the means to be a real Democracy, internet and computers.
Good point and I totally agree.
Now if the citizens voted for budget, laws and such, would we get the money that currently is given to our elected officials?
Good question but I think we all know the answer:)
Actually Bob, Athens was a City State, and they practiced pure Democracy. You can structure your government any way you like and but it doesn’t prevent Democracy. You got your peaches and pears mixed.
Democracy is nothing more than deciding by consensus. How you go about it depends on the environment you are in. Can I get a show of hands on that ? That can be a little harsh on minorities , and that is why we have a Bill of Rights and a Constitution to protect them.
Having spend a considerable time in my life working in the civil government I can tell you for sure that there is no place for politicians in making budgets or procedures of any kind. The operation of our civil government is an administrative function and it would operate infinitely better if there were no politicians making any rules or procedures regulations or or any other interference in the orderly proceed of administering an Agency or Department. Politicizing the paperwork is the surest way I know to destruction of your real government.
If you want to know who is responsible for all the fuckups that seem to be endemic in our government and it’s agencies it’s all the dim wits in the elected government , and the dim wits that keep sending the same dim wits back again and again. Heading all of The departments of our civil government with political hack and cronies who can’t piss a whole in the snow is a sure formula for disaster.
I have always liked the Diogenes Party! Just searching for an honest man/woman!
“Democracy is a political form of government in which governing power is derived from the people, by consensus (consensus democracy), by direct referendum (direct democracy), or by means of elected representatives of the people (representative democracy).”
So, if a dictator of a country is elected in an election by the “people”, and can be unelected, the country is technically a Democracy.
If a country is ruled by the consent of the governed, and those people have a say in the selection of the leader, then the country is democratic.
So, you can have democracies that are socialistic or even communistic, as long as it is what the people want and they have a say in the selection of the leaders.
Here in the US we have influence of the people by ads paid for or by money directly given to candidates by large corporations that technically are not “people” but are allowed to be part of the process. (a very bad idea)
mmmmm. Nicely said.
Democracy has consistently failed over time. Why? Humans were not intended to rule, just reign. Why? Original Sin gets in the way: Control (thanks Eve)
Poor Eve and the snake. They’ve been paying for a long time. Will it ever end?
No …. it is the bane of Human kind.
Gogo team Australia
Gogo?
It’s a kind of slang. Also known as “agogo”. Comes from yelling “Go team!”
Guess I should know that, being Australian….:)
We are supposed to be a republic, meanning we are to be ruled by the law (our .Constitution)
But With the way goverment is acting anymore, I would sadly say no.
Concur
It is supposed to be. But when you have a President like Zuma who state only A N C members are going to heaven I think we are going very wrong
Costa Rica! Democratic since 1899.
I think the United States is quite Democratic. It was born to be a Republic but since FDR it has changed to a Democracy with two main parties, but as of recently it’s like the Vanilla tastes like Chocolate and the Chocolate tastes like Vanilla. Democratic, indeed. America… who’s pulling your strings?
Europe is very democratic that is why our country was pressured into voting for the lisbon treaty twice first time we voted no,WRONG DESISION so we were told by our leaders to vote yes second time,or all kinds of shit would reign down on us from Brussels so the Irish people voted YES,our Country Democratic LOL.