Does it really matter whether it feels like democracy or not? Democracy is a system of government, not some ideal that has to be parroted everywhere. It does not affect your elections, or your actual democratic rights.
I never said anything about it feeling like democracy. I said it effects democracy conceptually. And yes, democracy is an ideal. It needs to be at the forefront of the public consciousness to create a greater whole from the will of the people.
You are right that the monarchy of the UK doesn't effect my elections or rights, but that's because I'm American, not because the monarchy doesn't effect democracy.
But it
doesn't affect democracy. It's not taking any freedoms with her being " Head Of State' It's a purely symbolic system.
Conceptually? Really? Private corporations affect my democracy.
Conceptually. That grass affects my democracy.
Conceptually.Concept does not matter. Execution does.
Exactly, while there is no point in having her, there is no point in keeping her. But there is no point getting rid of her. I mean, Buckingham palace, those guys with the hats, it's all a connection to your past. I mean, would you throw out your day's prized car if it didn't work?
Whether or not that past was rosey and pleasant and worth keeping is another story.
Do you see the UK as an authoritarian state opposed to a democratic one?
I see the UK as a generally democratic state with unfortunate autoritarian elements that should be excised like dead flesh.
But yes, to recap, kingfisher has established that authoritarianism (if done well) is preferable to democracy (because it doesn't work) and that there is no sense in having a head of state, although there's no sense in getting rid of them if you've got them.
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Are you even paying attention? There are good Authoritarian systems ( Hitler. Yes, except for all that silly WW2 business he was pretty effective.) Bad ones. ( Stalin) Good democracies ( France) And bad ones. ( African ones) Authoritarianism is really just an ideal you have on a democratic or monarchical or communist society, dictating how people should live their lives.