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Old February 4, 2013, 03:04 AM   #20
Dr Big Bird PhD
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Join Date: October 26, 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 779
Quote:
Is any revolution really democratic? I don't have the background to speak in this area, but I'm curious.

IIRC the American revolution was actually undertaken by about 3% of the population (fighting men + supporters + other meaningful participants). That sounds like an elite class rather than a democratic majority, although I don't know that the other 97% were opposed to revolution rather than just too afraid to meaningfully participate.
It's moreso rhetorical. The revolution was instigated by "the majority" who was the "lower class and poor". By the Bolshevik's leaders own portrayals, it was what "the majority of russians wanted". Democracy is the majority subjugating the minority. When Obama says "the majority of Americans" want "gun control", an "assault weapons ban", or "to raise taxes on the rich," he is actually using something I call packaging.
The concept of democracy has a very benevolent stigma to the average american because the system by default gives people the illusion that they are making their own decisions. They believe that America is a democracy and since it is American, it is good. When Obama, Bolsheviks, or Quakers use the "majority" rhetoric they are appealing to the same rationale of a pure democracy. Since there is a grave misunderstanding about the concept of a democracy in our country, it gives a socially comforting appeal when a directive, law, or statement is based upon Ad Populum.

Quote:
Communism,Socialism,Capitalism = economic model

Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Authoritarian = power model

Any economic model can be used along with any power model.
I disagree that a Communist society can exist under democracy or a capitalist society can exist under a monarchy. But that's moreso in function, not theory.
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