Merits and Demerits of Democracy free essay sample

Democracy is considered to be the best form of government these days. Most of the countries in the world have adopted it. The following arguments have been given in favour of Democracy: (i) Safeguards the interests of the people: Chief merit of democracy lies in that it safeguards the interests of the people. Real power lies in the hands of the people who exercise it by the representatives elected by them and who are responsible to them. It is said that social, economic and political interests of the individuals are served better under this system. ii) Based on the principle of equality: Democracy is based on the principle of equality. All members of the State are equal in the eyes of law. All enjoy equal social, political and economic rights and state cannot discriminate among citizens on the basis of caste, religion, sex, or property. All have equal right to choose their government. We will write a custom essay sample on Merits and Demerits of Democracy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (iii) Stability and responsibility in administration: Democracy is known for its stability, firmness and efficiency. These days tenure of the elected representatives is fixed. They form a stable government because it is based on public support. The administration is conducted with a sense of responsibility. In representative democracy, peoples representatives discuss matters more thoroughly and take reasonable decision. Under monarchy the Monarch takes decisions as he pleases. Under dictatorship, the dictators do not involve people at all in decision making, people have no right to criticise the decisions of the dictator even when they are bad and against peoples welfare. (iv) Political education to the people: Another argument given in favour of democracy is that it serves as a training school for citizens. People get impetus to take part in the affairs of the state. At the time of elections political parties propose their policy and programme in support of their candidates. All means of propaganda-public meetings, posters, radio, television and speeches by important leaders of the parties- are used to win public favour. It creates political consciousness among the people. (v) Little chance of revolution: Since democracy is based on public will, there is no chance of public revolt. Representatives elected by the people conduct the affairs of the state with public support. If they dont work efficiently or dont come up to the expectations of their masters i. e. , the public, they are thrown in the dustbin of history when elections are held again. Gilchrist opines that democracy or popular governments always function with consensus and therefore question of revolt or revolution does not arise. (vi) Stable government: Democracy is based on public will. It conducts state business with public support. It is, therefore, more stable than other forms of Government. (vii) Helps in making people good citizens: Success of democracy lies on its good citizens. Democracy creates proper environment for the development of personality and cultivating good habits. D. Tacquville is of opinion that Democracy is the first school of good citizenship. Citizens learn their rights and duties from birth till death in it. (viii) Based on public opinion: Democratic administration is based on public will, public opinion lends it strength. It is not based on fear of authority. Gettel is of opinion that democracy stands on consensus, not on power; it admits the existence of state for individual, not individual for the state. It lends development and progress to individual and arouses his interest in social activities. Individuals readily take active part in such a government. And this is because of the eminence, devotion and conviction in man found in the nature of democracy itself. Demerits of Democracy Following arguments have been given against Democracy: (i) More emphasis on quantity than on quality: It is not based upon the quality but on quantity. Majority party holds the reigns of government. Inefficient and corrupt persons get themselves elected. They have neither intelligence, nor vision, nor strength of character to steer through the ship of the state to its destinations. (ii) Rule of the incompetent: Democracies are run by incompetent persons. It is government by amateurs. In it, every citizen is allowed to take part, whereas everybody is not fit for it. Locke calls it the act of running administration by the ignorant. He says that history records the fact that a few are intelligent. Universal adult franchise grants right to vote to everybody. Thus, a few manipulators who can collect votes with the greatest success get democratic power. The result is that democracy run by the ignorant and incompetent becomes totally unfit for intellectual progress and search for scientific truths. (iii) Based on unnatural equality: The concept of equality is enshrined in democracy. It is against the law of nature. Nature has not endowed every individual with intelligence and wisdom. Mens talents differ. Some are courageous, other are cowards. Some healthy, others not so healthy. Some are intelligent, others are not. Critics are of opinion that it is against the law of nature to grant equal status to everybody. (iv) Voters do not take interest in election: Voters do not cast their vote in a spirit of duty as democracy requires them to do. Contestants of election persuade them. Even then, it is generally found that turn out comes to 50 to 60 percent only. This forefeits the very tall claim of holding elections. (v) Lowers the moral standard: The only aim of the candidates becomes to win election. They often employ under-hand practices, foul means to get elected. Character assassination is openly practised, unethical ways are generally adopted. Muscle power and money power work hand-in-hand to ensure success to him. Thus, morality is the first casualty in election. It is a big loss for when character is lost, everything is lost becomes explicit in due course. (vi) Democracy is a government of the rich: Modern democracy is, in fact, capitalistic. It is rule of the capitalists. Electioneering is carried out with money. The rich candidates purchase votes. Might of economic power rules over the whole process. The net result is that we get plutocracy under the garb of democracy-democracy in name and form, plutocracy in reality. It cares a fig for the common man. The rich hold the media and use it for their own benefit. Big business houses influence dailies and use these dailies for creating public opinion to their favour. Influence of moneyed people over politics is probably clear in England, America and India. Consequently, communists dont accept it democracy at all. According to them, Socialist democracy is democracy in the right sense of the term because the welfare of the labour class and farming community can be safeguarded properly only under socialist democracy. (vii) Misuse of public funds and time: Democracy is a huge waste of time and resources. It takes much time in the formulation of laws. A lot of money is spent during the elections. Ministers are proving white elephants. They are a heavy burden on public exchequer as they waste public money on their tours and recreations. (viii) No stable government: When no party gets absolute majority, coalition governments are formed. The coalition of political parties with a view of sharing power is only a marriage of convenience. Whenever there occurs clash of interests, the coalition is lost and governments crumble down. Thus, stable governments under democracy generally dont exist. France lost the World War II because there was no stable government in the country at that time. We, in India, have been experiencing the same thing for the present. (ix) Dictatorship of majority: Democracy is criticised because it establishes dictatorship of majority. The majority is required to safeguard the interests of minority but in actual practice it does not. Majority after gaining success at the polls forms its ministry and conducts the affairs of the state by its own sweet will. It ignores the minority altogether; the minority is oppressed. (x) Bad influence of political parties: Political parties are the basis of democracy. A political party aims at capturing power. Its members are to safeguard the interests of the party. Sometimes, they overlook the overall interest of the state for the sake of their party. They try to win election by hook or by crook. Practising the immoral methods, empty ideals, inciting hatred, spreading caste feelings, communalism has become a common practice. It lowers the national character.

The Media and Body Image †Womens Studies Essay (100 Level Course)

The Media and Body Image – Womens Studies Essay (100 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers The Media and Body Image Womens Studies Essay (100 Level Course) The media has impact on everyone, everywhere and all the time. Whether the population hears it on television, movies, or the radio perhaps. Maybe they read about how to be beautiful on advertisements, or in magazines. There are so many ways to read about and see pictures of what â€Å"beautiful† women look like. Many people try very hard to mimic the set appearance. Although, its not always women, many men try Anorexia Nervosa just like the women do. Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that many Americans suffer from. Most of the time, the spectators don’t realize that in reality they are being told to look and dress a certain way and it becomes second nature to them. In a way, Media is like evolution. When Marilyn Monroe was popular, she was an amazingly gorgeous woman and most thought of her that way. Now she would actually be considered a large, overweight person. Anorexia Nervosa is becoming a larger problem as time grows. Models are normally about 5’11 and weigh 115lbs. And that is not realistic for an average woman who is around 5’7 and 140lbs to look that way. It’s unhealthy. Anorexia can have severe or fatal consequences that can very easily result in death if not treated right away. Therapy would be needed to help get through this disorder because most of it is mind and body and trying to improve self-esteem. When people get upset, sometimes they tend to not eat and this can be sparked by being very depressed, or going away to college, family problems, reaching puberty or even relationships. This is a serious matter and when media portrays this kind of information to our youth it gets to the point where no one can ignore it â€Å"in order to be beautiful, you have to be thin† (Smith 22) That is the beginning of dangerous dieting or anorexia â€Å"the more you lose, the more you want to lose† (Smith 38) Young teens and some adults don’t understand how harmful it is to your body to not eat. When it gets to the point where you cant eat food anymore, the doctors actually give the patients a choice of this special type of nutrition that almost looks like a cup cake with out any flavor what so ever or eating through a tube that runs down through the nose to the stomach. Either way it is just plain awful. Many people will develop osteoporosis and have extremely brittle and fragile bones and have to rely on the assistance of others or a cane or wheel chair to get around. Media has a huge influence on society today, especially on teens. Everyone has seen or heard of some type of advertisement promoting some type of beauty product, jewelry, or a new brand of clothing to say the least. Almost all of it is based on beauty â€Å"when media television, movies, magazines and advertising widely promotes this ideal, it becomes difficult to ignore.† (Smith 24) That pretty much sums it all up. The quote basically says that people cannot get away from it all. It’s almost impossible to ignore it unless being cut off from the world, which is not realistic. Just like an article in Teen peoples magazine on page 47 on February’s addition where they are telling the reader about a new band. It states â€Å"Who you’ll love† and â€Å"Why you’ll love them† (Bank 47) then it gives reasons. That obviously is implying to the reader that they have to like them and that other people are going to like them too, so to be cool th ey need to buy their CD’s and become a fan. Over the years, men and women have forgotten about inner beauty. They take in what is seen with their eyes and not felt with the heart. Personality is a large part of inner beauty and is part of what makes someone beautiful from the inside out and not from just the shallow aspect that everyone is programmed to see. Why do people try to look the same when everyone is a unique and individual person? In conclusion, body image is not to be taken lightly. Media has a strong impact on today’s teens and affects everyone’s views and their ways of thinking. It is a very strong tool that they have control over, and only you, as the reader can decide whether or not it’s worth paying attention to. Research Papers on The Media and Body Image - Women's Studies Essay (100 Level Course)Analysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Fifth HorsemanPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyHip-Hop is ArtMind TravelInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesTrailblazing by Eric Anderson

Debating Public Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Debating Public Policy - Essay Example However, the role of such organizations has been largely unnoticed since they fund advocacy groups (Weissert, Knott, 1995, Pp. 275). The policy process can play a significant role in safeguarding minority rights which involve protection of basic human rights such as freedom of speech and expression, freedom to choose and follow religion of choice and beliefs, freedom of seeking equal protection under the law, and the liberty to participate with equal strength and vigor in the public life of the society. The protection of rights of minorities is essential to the governments and policy makers to enable them to substantiate the cultural identity of the minorities as well as their social practices and traditions. The minorities may involve people belonging to ethnic backgrounds, following different religious beliefs and customs, as well as those who are geographically located in areas where their community is less in number, and differentiated on the basis of their income. Such groups are encouraged to participate in the policy making process to facilitate smoother functioning of governmental organizations and to mai ntain national and political integrity (America.gov, 2008). The prime objective of any public decision process revolves around protection of their individual as well as collective rights through promoting welfare of their society. The choice of an appropriate and suitable public policy is the key to bringing about the desired reforms and facilitating implementation of the policies that promote and initiate welfare and overall socio –economic development of their societies. The establishment of a customary perception is assisted by increased familiarity of the social fabric of the community at large. The heightened knowledge about the existence of pre requisites which hampers the social life in a complicated metropolitan environment is reflective of conflict (Cohnstaedt, 1966,