“The Chinese have certain advantages. The fact that it's a single party government. But I do believe in the long run the fact that India is a functioning democracy committed to the rule of law. Our system is slow to move but I'm confident that once decisions are taken they are going to be far more durable.” BelieveLongFactsGovernmentRunningMovingLawCertainDecisionPartyDemocracyTakenAdvantageIndiaCommittedChineseLong RunsRule Of Law Author:Manmohan Singh
“If there was one decision I would overrule, it would be Citizens United. I think the notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to be.” IfsThinkingWould BeDecisionUnitedDemocracyCitizensNotionSupposed To BeCitizens United Author:Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“India is a democracy; it is in our DNA. As far as the different political parties are concerned, I firmly believe that they have the maturity and wisdom to make decisions that are in the best interests of the nation.” BelieveDifferentPoliticalNationsInterestDecisionPartyDemocracyConcernedIndiaMaturityDnaPolitical Parties Author:Narendra Modi
“In a democracy, every ordinary citizen is effectively a king--but a king in a constitutional democracy, a monarch who decides only formally, whose function is merely to sign off on measures proposed by an executive administration. This is why the problem with democratic rituals is homologous to the great problem of constitutional monarchy: how to protect the dignity of the king? How to maintain the appearance that the king effectively makes decisions, when we all know this not to be true?” KnowsProblemDecisionDemocracyKingsCitizensProtectOrdinaryDignityFunctionDemocraticAppearanceBeing TrueAdministrationExecutivesRitualMonarchyMonarchsOrdinary CitizensConstitutional MonarchySigning Off Book:First As Tragedy, Then As Farce Source: First As Tragedy, Then As Farce
“And what has come to prevail in democracies is the very reverse of beneficial, in those, that is, which are regarded as the most democratically run. The reason for this lies in the failure properly to define liberty. For there are two marks by which democracy is thought to be defined: "sovereignty of the majority" and "liberty." "Just" is equated with what is equal, and the decision of the majority as to what is equal is regarded as sovereign; and liberty is seen in terms of doing what one wants.” WantTwoReasonRunningLyingPoliticsTermDecisionLibertyEconomyDemocracyEqualMarkMajorityDefinedLiberalismReverseSovereignSovereigntyBeneficial Author:Aristotle
“I didn't know growing up what I wanted to do. I finally settled on broadcast journalism as a way to satisfy the urge to perform and also do something important, which is to give people in a democracy information to make good decisions.” PeopleKnowsWayGivingImportantWantedDecisionGrowing UpDemocracyGrowingInformationJournalismUrgesGood DecisionBroadcast Journalism Author:Mort Crim
“When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated powers given the federal government. Substituting democratic decision making for what should be private decision making is nothing less than tyranny dressed up.” ShouldWellsGovernmentPoliticalGivenDecisionDemocracySawsConstitutionDemocraticTyrannyDefinedDecision MakingSpheresFoundersFederal GovernmentDressed Up Author:Walter E. Williams
“Least of all shall we preserve democracy or foster its growth if all the power and most of the important decisions rest with an organization far too big for the common man to survey or comprehend.” IfsMenImportantBigsGrowthDecisionCommonDemocracyOrganizationPreservesSurveysCommon ManImportant Decisions Author:Friedrich August von Hayek
“With us it is not a question of Bolshevism or democracy, but of life or death. A decision in favor of a Soviet could not be opposed by the Young Turks.” YoungDecisionDemocracyFavorsSovietLife Or DeathBolshevism Author:Djemal Pasha
“The problem with the West is that they start with political reform going towards democracy. If you want to go towards democracy, the first thing is to involve the people in decision making, not to make it.” PeopleIfsWantFirstsProblemPoliticalDecisionDemocracyWestReformDecision MakingPolitical Reform Author:Bashar al-Assad
“But having made my decision as Commander-in-Chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interests, I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress.” PeopleWorldLongMadeUseGovernmentMightForcePresidentInterestDecisionDemocracyViolenceSecurityMilitaryPolicyExampleEthicsConstitutionCongressHuman RightsConvincedChiefsForeign PolicyRootedRepresentativesNational SecurityCommandersCommander In ChiefUse Of Force Author:Barack Obama
“There is always an element of realpolitik that has to be present in the conduct of any nation's national security affairs. At the same time, we have to also have a balance between realpolitik and Wilsonian principles of freedom and democracy and human rights. And maintaining that balance is the greatest challenge that we in the West, including the Federal Republic of Germany, have to face because it's many times a very difficult decision-making process.” HumansFacesNationsProcessDifficultChallengesDecisionPrinciplesDemocracyRightsSecurityBalanceElementsWestIncludingAffairHuman RightsGermanyDecision MakingRepublicNational SecurityMaintainingDifficult DecisionsDecision Making ProcessDemocracy And Human RightsRealpolitik Author:John McCain
“The political system of the People's Republic of China can make things easy. Decisions are made quickly and results come quickly, too. In our democracy [in India], on the other hand, such things are extremely difficult.” PeopleMadeHandsPoliticalEasyDifficultDecisionResultsDemocracyIndiaChinaRepublicPolitical Systems Author:Ratan Tata
“The parliament is the supreme decision-making and legislative body in any democracy. It reflects the collective desires of the citizens and makes laws.” BodyLawDesireDecisionDemocracyCitizensSupremeCollectivesDecision MakingParliament Author:Ziauddin Sardar
“Highly intelligent and well-informed people disagree on every political issue. Therefore, intelligence and knowledge are useless for making decisions, because if any of that stuff helped, then all the smart people would have the same opinions. So use your "gut instinct" to make voting choices. That is exactly like being clueless, but with the added advantage that you'll feel as if your random vote preserved democracy.” PeopleIfsFeelsWellsUsePoliticalChoicesStuffDecisionOpinionDemocracyIssuesSmartAdvantageVoteIntelligentInstinctUselessGutsVotingDisagreeSmart PeopleMaking DecisionsCluelessPolitical IssuesGut InstinctHighly Intelligent Author:Scott Adams
“I want the Iraqis to understand that we are with them and that they have to make tough decisions, and we'll help them make those tough decisions for this country, for this democracy to survive. And they've made some tough decisions.” WantMadeCountryHelpingDecisionDemocracyToughTough Decisions Author:George W. Bush
“We're an ignorant nation right now. We're not really capable, I do not think, the majority of our people, of making the decisions that have to be made at election time and particularly in the selection of their legislatures and their Congress and the presidency, of course. I don't think we're bright enough to do the job that would preserve our democracy, our republic. I think we're in serious danger.” PeopleThinkingMadeEnoughJobsCoursesNationsDecisionDemocracyDangerSeriousRight NowCapableElectionMajorityCongressIgnorantPreservesVotingRepublicIncapablePresidencySelectionLegislaturePessimisticElectorateIgnorant PeopleAnchormanElection TimeIncapability Author:Walter Cronkite
“Referendums are a democratic instrument, but so are decisions reached in a parliamentary democracy. I advise extreme caution when it comes to referendums. In Germany too.” DecisionDemocracyInstrumentsDemocraticExtremesGermanyCautionAdviseParliamentaryReferendumsParliamentary Democracy Author:Martin Schulz
“I think that the influence of people with power and money to distort democracy and have their interests served before the rest of the population is the biggest problem. That is caused by two things: campaign finance and the way that's structured, and by the Citizen's United supreme court decision. So those two things are keeping democracy from working right.” PeopleThinkingWayTwoProblemInterestDecisionUnitedDemocracyInfluenceCitizensCourtPopulationCampaignsSupremeFinanceTwo ThingsSupreme CourtCampaign FinanceCourt Decision Author:Shepard Fairey
“As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other billionaire families. These wealthy contributors can literally buy politicians and elections by spending hundreds of millions of dollars in support of the candidates of their choice. We need to overturn Citizens United and move toward public funding of elections so that all candidates can run for office without being beholden to the wealthy and powerful.” NeedsRunningMovingChoicesAbilityDecisionUnitedResultsPowerfulMillionsSupportDemocracyBrotherCitizensPoliticianOfficeElectionCourtDollarsSpendingSupremeCandidatesWealthySupreme CourtFundingBillionaireContributorsAmerican DemocracyCourt DecisionCitizens United Author:Bernie Sanders
“If elected president I will have a litmus test in terms of my nominee to be a Supreme Court justice. And the nominee will say, we are going to overturn this disastrous decision on Citizens United because that decision is undermining American democracy. I do not believe that billionaires should be allowed to buy politicians.” IfsShouldBelievePresidentTermJusticeDecisionUnitedDemocracyCitizensPoliticianTestsCourtSupremeSupreme CourtBillionaireUnderminingAmerican DemocracySupreme Court JusticeCourt JusticeCitizens United Author:Bernie Sanders
“Wikileaks is a democratizing force. Its giving individuals access to decisions and thinking by their representatives and in a democracy that ought to be reflexive.” ThinkingGivingIndividualForceDecisionDemocracyOughtAccessRepresentativesGiving InWikileaks Author:Noam Chomsky
“I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is - feels - responsible, and acts responsibly, and participates in decision-making.” FeelsStatesIndividualDecisionDemocracyCitizensResponsibleDecision MakingOrganizational Author:Erich Fromm
“I believe devoutly that the national election is the closest thing we have to a civic sacrament of democracy. And I really do think that heed must be paid, and when people make a decision, those who are on the other side, including me, accept it, for that reason.” PeopleThinkingBelieveReasonI BelieveSidesDecisionAcceptingDemocracyPaidElectionIncludingClosestSacramentsCivicsHeed Author:Mark Shields
“The bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and that means we have to have an independent judiciary, judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing.” MeanLawPoliticalDecisionDemocracyJudgingWindIndependentRule Of LawJudiciaryBedrockIndependent Judiciary Author:Caroline Kennedy