I want to laugh on this one. Yet, I really don't have time to type one by one. There are so much to discuss here.
On Mar 15, 8:28 am, Kampuchun2012 <[email protected]> wrote: > THE AMAZING RACE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY > > From “Democracy for All,” Street Law, > Inc.:http://www.streetlaw.org/democlesson.html > > People from around the world have identified the basic principles, > which must exist in order to have a democratic government. These > principles often become a part of the constitution or bill of rights > in a democratic society. Though no two democratic countries are > exactly alike, people in democracies support many of the same basic > principles and desire the same benefits from their government. > > 1. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION > 2. EQUALITY > 3. POLITICAL TOLERANCE > 4. ACCOUNTABILITY > 5. TRANSPARENCY > 6. REGULAR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS > 7. ECONOMIC FREEDOM > 8. CONTROL OF THE ABUSE OF POWER > 9. BILL OF RIGHTS > 10. ACCEPTING THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS > 11. HUMAN RIGHTS > 12. MULTI PARTY SYSTEM > 13. RULE OF LAW > > 1. Citizen Participation > One of the most basic signposts of a democracy is citizen > participation in government. Participation is the key role of citizens > in democracy. It is not only their right, but it is their duty. > Citizen participation may take many forms including standing for > election, voting in elections, becoming informed, debating issues, > attending community or civic meetings, being members of private > voluntary organizations, paying taxes, and even protesting. > Participation builds a better democracy. > > 2. Equality > Democratic societies emphasize the principle that all people are > equal. Equality means that all individuals are valued equally, have > equal opportunities, and may not be discriminated against because of > their race, religion, ethnic group, gender or sexual orientation. In a > democracy, individuals and groups still maintain their right to have > different cultures, personalities, languages and > beliefs. > > 3. Political Tolerance > Democratic societies are politically tolerant. This means that while > the majority of the people rule in a democracy, the rights of the > minority must be protected. People who are not in power must be > allowed to organize and speak out. Minorities are sometimes referred > to as the opposition because they may have ideas which are different > from the majority. Individual citizens must also learn to be tolerant > of each other. A democratic society is often composed of people from > different cultures, racial, religious and ethnic groups who have > viewpoints different from the majority of the population. A democratic > society is enriched by diversity. If the majority deny rights to and > destroy theiropposition, then they also destroy democracy. One goal of > democracy is to make the best possible > decision for the society. To achieve this, respect for all people and > their points of view is needed. Decisions are more likely to be > accepted, even by those who oppose them, if all citizens have been > allowed to discuss, debate and question them. > > 4. Accountability > In a democracy, elected and appointed officials have to be accountable > to the people. They are responsible for their actions. Officials must > make decisions and perform their duties according to the will and > wishes of the people, not for themselves. > > 5. Transparency > For government to be accountable the people must be aware of what is > happening in the country. This is referred to as transparency in > government. A transparent government holds public meetings and allows > citizens to attend. In a democracy, the press and the people are able > to get information > about what decisions are being made, by whom and why. > > 6. Regular, Free and Fair Elections > One way citizens of the country express their will is by electing > officials to represent them in government. Democracy insists that > these elected officials are chosen and peacefully removed from office > in a free and fair manner. Intimidation, corruption and threats to > citizens during or before an > election are against the principles of democracy. In a democracy, > elections are held regularly everyso many years. Participation in > elections should not be based on a citizen's wealth. For free and fair > elections to occur, most adult citizens should have the right to stand > for government office. Additionally, obstacles should not exist which > make it difficult for people to vote. > > 7. Economic Freedom > People in a democracy must have some form of economic freedom. This > means that the government allows some private ownership of property > and businesses, and that the people are allowed to choose their own > work and labor unions. The role the government should play in the > economy is open to > debate, but it is generally accepted that free markets should exist in > a democracy and the state should not totally control the economy. Some > argue that the state should play a stronger role in countries where > great inequality of wealth exists due to past discrimination or other > unfair practices. > > 8. Control of the Abuse of Power > Democratic societies try to prevent any elected official or group of > people from misusing or abusing their power. One of the most common > abuses of power is corruption. Corruption occurs when government > officials use public funds for their own benefit or exercise power in > an illegal manner. Various methods have been used in different > countries to protect against these abuses. Frequently the > government is structured to limit the powers of the branches of > government: to have independent courts and agencies with power to act > against any illegal action by an elected official or branch of > government; to allow for citizen participation and elections; and to > check for police abuse of power. > > 9. Bill of Rights > Many democratic countries also choose to have a bill of rights to > protect people against abuse of power. A bill of rights is a list of > rights and freedoms guaranteed to all people in the country. When a > bill of rights becomes part of a country's constitution, the courts > have the power to enforce these rights. A bill of rights limits the > power of government and may also impose duties on individuals and > organizations. > > 10. Accepting the Results of Elections > In democratic elections, there are winners and losers. Often the > losers in an election believe so strongly that their party or > candidate is the best one, that they refuse to accept the results of > theelection. This is against democratic principles. The consequences > of not accepting the result of an election may be a government that is > ineffective and cannot make decisions. It may even result in violence > which is also against democracy. > > 11. Human Rights > All democracies strive to respect and protect the human rights of > citizens. Human rights mean those values that reflect respect for > human life and human dignity. Democracy emphasizes the value of every > human being. Examples of human rights include freedom of expression, > freedom of association, freedom of assembly, the right to equality and > the right to education. > > 12. Multi-Party System > In order to have a multi-party system, more than one political party > must participate in elections and play a role in government. A multi- > party system allows for opposition to the party, which wins the > election. This helps provide the government with different viewpoints > on issues. Additionally, a multiparty > system provides voters with a choice of candidates, parties and > policies to vote for. Historically, when a country only has one party, > the result has been a dictatorship. > > 13. The Rule of Law > In a democracy no one is above the law, not even a king or an elected > President. This is called the rule of law. It means that everyone must > obey the law and be held accountable if they violate it. Democracy > also insists that the law be equally, fairly and consistently > enforced. This is sometimes > referred to as "due process of law." -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. 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