How can we improve democracy?

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Political Theory and the History of Ideas Journal, grade: A, Swiss Management Center University, course: Doctorate of Political Economy, language: English, abstract: There have been many shortcomings of democracy as has been readily identified by some of our well renowned thinkers of political philosophy and theory. Attempts and research have been made to provide a solution to the true concept of democracy; a libertarian society. This paper seeks to highlight aspects of democracy and to critically examine its merits and demerits of the concept of democracy with a view to introducing key ideas of a libertarian movement supporting individual rights, rights to self-ownership and property rights which, over the years, have appeared to be infringed upon by the state in the many legitimate but morally compromised incarnations such as through monarchies and democracies. This paper examines the concept of democracy and the current problems faced by Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), a developing economy located in the Caribbean. Some of the significant concerns are crime, an inadequate health-care system, corruption in the public service and governments, inequality, burgeoning welfare dependency, increasing tax burdens, increasing powers of the state, high debt and little accountability and transparency. This paper will introduce the concept of democracy and examine some of the perils faced by a democratic state such as T&T. One key feature of a democracy, that is, the majority rule will be addressed and alternative solutions will be proposed to limit the powers of government and introduce a libertarian view which seeks to provide a developmental framework in anticipation that it can address the problems of democracy. Concepts such as majority rule, proportional representation, direct democracy (referendums, rights of recall, initiative etc.) will be briefly reviewed in the context of its impacts in a representative democracy. The paper aims to show that the only alternative to democracy is a libertarian ideology which aims for individualism, self-ownership, self-determination and property rights. This is the alternative solution that can create the conditions to achieve high standards of living, high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per captia, eradicate or minimize as far as possible, poverty, crime, corruption, unemployment, racial discrimination, build a world class health care system and inculcate high standards of integrity and trust in politicians. Reconstruction of some of the views of a few selected libertarian authors on the effects of democracy, as defined, on self-ownership and property rights will be considered.