What are the opportunities and challenges of a democracy?

Opportunity with democracy:

Democracy allows the people to be in charge of choosing their leaders. The leader chosen will then have power to make decisions on behalf of the people, but while this leader holds a certain amount of power, it is only temporary.  In other words, take for example a “good” leader.  Typically, we the people, would like that leader to stay in office.  However, with the notion this person only has a particular length of time in office, they may be inclined to do more with the time they have rather than prolong a situation.  Also, perhaps this “good” leader is humbled by the idea that one day they will no longer have that leadership role and will appreciate it while it’s in hand.  This time in office could be a way of the elected person to set examples to the people who did and did not chose them as well as following leaders to take that place.  Now if the leader doesn’t end up being “good” and tends to make poor decisions, then the limited time in office is a good thing for the obvious reason. 

Challenges of a democracy:

When we talk about a person with power, do we really stop and think about what got them there in the first place?   Of course the people, but while a majority of numbers elected that particular person, how many hours were spent in the decision process?  Research that had to be done to ensure this was the right choice, organization to campaign and show others why they should choose the same person.  Challenges present themselves during the entire process of election.  Things like the people continuing to participate in voting, making sure it’s a fair process, and making sure voters are allowed privacy by avoiding intimidation or coercion.  During election time the media is hugely involved, tons of groups whether it be democrat or republican are organizing information to support their nominated person, rallies are created, etc.  While all Americans are entitled to their own opinions, certain events or verbiage said during these election processes can create upset from argumentative discussions to severe unprofessionalism, and worse violence. 

Diamond, Larry. “What is Democracy?” Online posting. 21 Jan. 2004 <http://www.stanford.edu/~ldiamond/iraq/WhaIsDemocracy012004.htm>.