We should first understand its and have a courage to break through National barriere. And then the real democracy will come true! Kampuchun.
On Mar 27, 11:40 am, kangaroo <[email protected]> wrote: > Everyone should loose their own country first before they get into > politics. > > On Mar 24, 9:11 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. 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