# How democratic is the UK really?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-democratic-is-the-uk-really/539576
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 15, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-democratic-is-the-uk-really/539576 "2010-05-15T20:54:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 62

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### Author: ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-democratic-is-the-uk-really/539576/62 "2010-05-19T13:46:04Z")

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> [@septimus](#):
>
> It happens to be the case that in debates it is usually **septimus** who says “No … no … there are shades of gray” when others are too inclined to see things in black and white. Certainly there are “good people” allied with Thaksin and there are corrupt people allied with the Democrats – I never argued otherwise.

> [@](#):
>
> “Right now Bangkok is crippled by armed terrorists asking for elections; elections which “their side” might well win. In many foreign news reports we read that they are “populists” fighting an “elite.” Yet most well-informed Thais understand that the incumbent government is more liberal, and more inclined to “democratic” processes like rural advancement, rural property rights, etc. The terrorists are simply being paid by a heinous billionaire (who looted the Treasury when in power previously), who will also pay them for votes if elections are held. Which side represents “Democracy”?”

That didn’t sound like ‘shades of grey’ to me. That’s basically my only point on this subject really.

> [@](#):
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> You’re coming awfully close to admitting ignorance, yet arguing against those more knowledgable anyway! If you choose to respond further I’d ask (a) that you give examples of Thaksin’s perfidy just to see if we’re on the same page, and (b) to support your allegations of Democrat perfidy or corruption. (And, no, opposition to the criminal won’t constitute a valid example of “corruption.”)

I already linked to a Pollwatch report that found the Democrats were involved in vote-buying in the 2007 referendum. Look, if we’re having a knowledge contest about Thailand, you guys win. All I’m saying is I think, “Thaksin and all his supporters are heinous, other side is liberal and democratic” is an unfair representation of the situation, which you seem to have agreed with, so I think we’re basically on the same page.

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