Comments on: Democratic parties are possible http://www.thenutgraph.com/democratic-parties-are-possible/ Making Sense of Politics & Pop Culture Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:50:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sunny bunny http://www.thenutgraph.com/democratic-parties-are-possible/#comment-16010 sunny bunny Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:47:07 +0000 #comment-16010 Maybe then, the question is whether people can truly forget ethnicity and vote for merits in a democracy (ideally of course!). I know that many democracies have people voting for quite useless people and policies. === I think you have pointed out a very crucial point. It is true that in Western Europe and North America, there is a demonstrable increase in the electorate's disillusionment with democracy. This has given rise to exclusivist, far-right parties and politicians whose platforms are not exactly democratic, but nevertheless manage to win support from disgruntled and disillusioned voters. It is therefore crucial to understand this phenomenon, and what possible implications it has on the very basis of democracy, but this commentary did not look at that aspect. Shanon Shah Columns and Comments Editor Maybe then, the question is whether people can truly forget ethnicity and vote for merits in a democracy (ideally of course!). I know that many democracies have people voting for quite useless people and policies.

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I think you have pointed out a very crucial point. It is true that in Western Europe and North America, there is a demonstrable increase in the electorate’s disillusionment with democracy. This has given rise to exclusivist, far-right parties and politicians whose platforms are not exactly democratic, but nevertheless manage to win support from disgruntled and disillusioned voters. It is therefore crucial to understand this phenomenon, and what possible implications it has on the very basis of democracy, but this commentary did not look at that aspect.

Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor

]]> By: sunny bunny http://www.thenutgraph.com/democratic-parties-are-possible/#comment-15922 sunny bunny Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:36:33 +0000 #comment-15922 Diversity in ethnic composition does not necessarily represent democracy. Democracy is what the majority of people vote for; and ideally it should be on merits. It shouldn't matter whether one is blue or green; black or white. === Nevertheless, when composition is clearly segregated along ethnic/religious lines, that can't be a signal that democratic criteria are being fulfilled either. One doesn't necessarily cancel out the other. Shanon Shah Columns and Comments Editor Diversity in ethnic composition does not necessarily represent democracy. Democracy is what the majority of people vote for; and ideally it should be on merits. It shouldn’t matter whether one is blue or green; black or white.

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Nevertheless, when composition is clearly segregated along ethnic/religious lines, that can’t be a signal that democratic criteria are being fulfilled either. One doesn’t necessarily cancel out the other.

Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor

]]> By: aitze http://www.thenutgraph.com/democratic-parties-are-possible/#comment-15842 aitze Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:49:43 +0000 #comment-15842 You might as well take the leaders of the parties concerned and ask "who is the most good looking?". What a pointless exercise. === I don't see the connection between one and the other. Shanon Shah Columns and Comments Editor You might as well take the leaders of the parties concerned and ask “who is the most good looking?”. What a pointless exercise.

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I don’t see the connection between one and the other.

Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor

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