Class9 spl ch1 notes

                                   (Why Democracy?)

ARGUMENTS AGAINST DEMOCRACY-

1)Instability: Leaders keep changing in a democracy.

2)No scope for morality: Democracy is all about political competition and power play.

3)Delay in decision making: So many people have to be consulted in a democracy.

4)Bad decisions: Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people.

5)Corruption: Democracy is based on electoral competition.

6)Ordinary people don't know what is good for them; they should not decide anything.

CONCLUSION-

Democracy is not a magical solution for all the problems.

It has not ended poverty in our country and in other parts of the world.

It only ensures that people take their own decisions, and does not guarantee that their decisions will be good.

People can make mistakes and involving people in decision making leads to delay.

Democracy leads to frequent changes in leadership, which can set back big decisions and affect the government's efficiency.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF DEMOCRACY-

Accountability- Case of China and India comparison

China- 

1958-1961: worst recorded famine in world history.

Nearly three crore people died in this famine.

Economists think: Due to the type of government in China it did not dealt with the issue of food scarcity.
India-

India's economic condition was not much better than China.

India did not have famine.

 Economists think: The existence of democracy in India made the Indian government respond to food scarcity.

The comparison between the two countries show us:

Democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the needs of the people.

A non-democratic government may and can respond to the people's needs, but it all depends on the wishes of the people who rule.

Hence, a democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.

DEMOCRACY IMPROVES  THE QUALITY OF DECISION-

1) Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.

2) A democratic decision involves many persons,discussions and meetings.

3) Helps to point out possible mistakes in any decision.

4) Time consuming but helpful in taking important decisions.

5)Reduces chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

DEMOCRACY PROVIDES A METHOD TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENCES AND CONFLICTS:

In any society people are bound to have differences of opinions and interests.

The preferences of one group can clash with those of other groups.

Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this problem.

In democracy, no one is a permanent winner. No one is a permanent loser.

Different groups can live with one another peacefully. In a diverse country like India, democracy keeps our country together.

DEMOCRACY ENHANCES CITIZENS' DIGNITY-

Democracy is based on the principle of political equality.

Poorest and the least educated has the same status as the rich and the educated.

People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.

Even when they make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct.

DEMOCRACY ALLOWS US TO CORRECT OUR OWN MISTAKES-

1) No guarantee that mistakes cannot be made in democracy.

2) Advantage of democracy, that such mistakes cannot be hidden for long.

3)There is a space for public discussion on these mistakes and correction.

4) Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers can be changed.

5) This cannot happen in non-democratic government.