Which one is more important? Democracy or Economy?
By faisai
@faisai (1138)
Hong Kong
June 30, 2009 8:28am CST
Now, both are important and I do hope that we can always have both of them. But what if we need to sacrifice one for the other? Will you choose Democracy or Economy?
Democracy gives us the freedom and rights to do the thing we like and express our opinions freely.
Economy gives us a better life. With better economy, we don't need to be frightened of the bills that arrive at our door steps each month.
So, what will you choose?
4 responses
@yusufcarlos (43)
• Malaysia
1 Jul 09
Best combo in my opinion is a very 'good' dictator with economic sense. Though the chance of having a 'good' dictator is next to impossible. Democracy just have too much red tapes and a lot of in-fighting whereas a dictatorship means you just follow what he says period and makes governing a country for efficient. As i said a 'good' dictator is a fantasy.
For your question, I'd go for economy because i'm looking at the pyramid of need. it doesn't matter if the country's democracy is screwed up as long as the economy is stable. when the ecomony is great then i'll recheck my pyramid of need and complain about democracy :)
if there's no democracy and no economy, i'm moving out :p
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
11 Jul 09
I agree that most dictators do corrupt in one way or another. But then, while they corrupt, did they do good to the society is the question. Put it this way, is a president that is absolutely clean but has no way to do good things to the society better or is a president that corrupt but really do something good to the society better?
@yusufcarlos (43)
• Malaysia
1 Jul 09
Hi Faisai. Where are you from? You sound like you're from the middle east or asian. I'm Malaysian by the way.
There's not much dictators left... hmm check that, dictators are hiding behind the democracy curtain recently.
If you have a good dictator then i envy you. If you have a good dictator with a damn good business sense, where are you and how to apply for permanent residency.
Notice I don't ask for a citizenship cause most dictator that ran a country will always handover to another dictator and the possibility of another 'good' dictator is astronomical.
I've no idea why but I'm compelled to answer Uroborus. I agree with his air and water anology. Of course it is important, Air has more urgency than Water but both is needed to live. But if you compare economy and democracy, democracy is not important to continue living but economy is needed in order to have money to continue living. I'm saying this because the key word to Faisai's question which is 'important'. What I define as important is to be able to live first.
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
30 Jun 09
hi faisai,
we require both democracy and economy, that is economic democracy, both our views are common, thanks a lot, good day
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
1 Jul 09
Thanks for your reply.
I know we need both. So, my question is, what if we have to sacrifice one for the other? For example, you are offer 2 options:
A. For the coming 10 years, for your city, you can elect any key position in the government absolutely freely but the economy will surely be bad.
B. For the coming 10 years, for your city, the economy will be rocket high due to heavy investments but you don't have a say on any personnel of the government.
What will you choose? I know we want the best of both world but what if we can't?
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
1 Jul 09
hi faisai,
that wont will happen to me, do not worry, all things happening according to it,happy day
@Uroborus (908)
• Canada
30 Jun 09
I think this is a little like asking whether air or water is more important. Both are required to have a healthy body, and getting rid of one to have the other doesn't make sense.
The question "But what if we need to sacrifice one for the other", is an artificial question. Could you give me a real example of where such a choice would have to be made. That is, since no other options present themselves.
Democracy and economy, by which I take it you mean making a living, are not at odds with each other. If a situation arises where it looks like they may be, may be one where all the options haven't been considered.
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
1 Jul 09
Thanks for your reply.
I know it is artificial question and I am not asking for an "answer". I am just asking for some opinion.
Air and water are "necessity" to life. Democracy and Economy are not. Some hundred years ago, people do not have democracy and it doesn't like they cannot live. Without economy, it simply means our lies will be harsh, it doesn't seem that people in all the third-world countries are just dying.
But then, I really don't have a real situation for you so maybe my question simply is not good enough to have your answer.
@purrdiem (4)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Since the United States has neither a good economy or true democracy, where do you live? It is true we demonstrate more than the average democratic practice in our government, but still many citizens have no voice. A person's worthiness was once judged by their ethnic background, now the standard is economic success. There are limited resources, since the poor do not take from the rich and the rich take from everyone, what our government protects and leans more towards is a capitalistic democracy. Where capitalism colors everything, democracy is a splash on the canvas.
@faisai (1138)
• Hong Kong
1 Jul 09
Thanks for your reply.
I think the economy is bad almost everywhere around the world so it doesn't really matter where democracy is in place or not. But what I am interested is that if one day we have to make the call, do we uphold democracy with bad economy or do we uphold economy with little democracy?
For instance, if there is a powerful enough nation that offer your country an investment that is so big that surely will turn the economy into positive region for the coming decades at the price of you have no say on whoever is taking control of the government, will you take it?
