Is Democracy the Best form of Government

[adam2]

The best form of government in my view is not democracy, but an appointed panel of experienced and qualified experts.
I cringe when I see democratically elected politicians who do not understand basic science, especially when they are making decisions regarding fuel, energy, and power.

In practice though it would be too contentious as to whom should be appointed, why, and how selected. Democracy is probably the best ACHIEVABLE system.

[UndercoverElephant]

Maybe Americans will realize they have to make it work, they were formed by refusing to bootlick Kings, an original or backup system for others not so dedicated to the idea, who still seem to idolize or hoping to be ruled that way.

Yeah Johnny, I agree.
Of course we sometimes behead kings instead

And Americans assassinate their Presidents. guns..Guns..GUNS! All 4 of them. 'MURIKA!

Citizens are allowed their own means of correcting flaws in the system, when push comes to shove.

Interesting use of the word "correcting".

[UndercoverElephant]

The best form of government in my view is not democracy, but an appointed panel of experienced and qualified experts.

Who appoints them?

In practice though it would be too contentious as to whom should be appointed, why, and how selected.

Exactly. This is why Plato said we need to be governed by philosopher kings -- select the most talented as children, then give them the best training possible in all fields relevant to the intellect and the soul, so they are both exceptionally well educated and ethically/spiritually motivated.

Unfortunately Plato didn't mean they should be free-thinkers capable of coming to their own philosophical conclusions -- the system they would implement would be his, of course. He even advocated that the rest of the population be basically brainwashed for their own good.

For me the question is radically open -- having spent a lot of time thinking about it and talking to people who have very differing ideas about the answer, I have no answer. I don't know what is the best form of government.

[Potemkin Villager]

He even advocated that the rest of the population be basically brainwashed for their own good.

That could be a starter!

At least being brainwashed for their own good, or for the good of society as a whole, would be an improvement
on being brainwashed solely for the benefit of the brainwashing class.

[Potemkin Villager]

Owen Matthews' book on the Russian-Ukraine conflict "Overreach" contains many fascinating insights into extreme and pragmatic political cynicism.

Relevant to this discussion are remarks attributed to Zelensky's predecessor, former Ukrainian President and oligarch Petro Poroshenko "that a voter is a shallow person who simply forgets what they were promised from one election to another. He wants to hear certain lies during a campaign. The elections consist of a kind of competition between liars and people vote for the most talented and boldest one."