I think, to an extent, Western-style liberal democracy is never going to work in China. In any big country, it has a nearly universal tendency to turn into oligarchy.

[–] blight@hexbear.net 78 points 2 years ago (26 children)

I think you missed her point, she's saying that westerners have a narrow view of what even counts as "democracy".

Iosif V. Dzhugashvili quote

[–] rodbiren@midwest.social 7 points 2 years ago (18 children)

I mean, certainly one could pick out a few test cases to indicate a democracy. Do the citizens have the apparent right to...

criticize the government freely
due process and unpartial justice
fair treatment of minority groups
run for office when qualified
free press

The US has a lot of headwinds on this short list but at least I am aware of the atrocities it has committed, can ask questions without being disappeared, and can theoretically run for office without being shot. Our democracy is ugly as hell, but at least I can see it. I question all governments that claim some higher ground.

[–] Bnova@hexbear.net 62 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

criticize the government freely

How many peaceful protesters got bagged in unmarked vans in 2020?

Also the Chicago PD have black sites where they would disappear people without cause and their families would not be notified.

due process and unpartial justice

Yeah it would really suck to be locked up for years without a trial.

fair treatment of minority groups

Yeah that's definitely not a thing in the US I'm not even sure how you could possibly think that it is unless you got kicked in the head by a donkey.

run for office

Okay...

when qualified

Who determines this qualification?

free press

It's really easy for the press to be free when the same multinational corporations that the US works on behalf of also own the "free" press.

It's really interesting that you didn't mention the one thing that I think a democracy actually has to have: representation/reflection of the will of the citizenry.

[–] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 32 points 2 years ago

How many peaceful protesters got bagged in unmarked vans in 2020? Also the Chicago PD have black sites where they would disappear people without cause and their families would not be notified

"Heh, don't you know, hexchanner, that not all cops are bad and a few bad apples don't condemn our great system of burgerland freedom?" smuglord

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