# Which democracy has the calmest, most rational political discourse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 3, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859 "2016-03-03T19:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/1 "2016-03-03T19:44:59Z")
Every democracy gets pretty shrill about certain topics, but in general, which democracy today is best able to discuss topics and issues in a calm, fair, rational, factual-based way? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/2 "2016-03-03T19:58:26Z")
I’m guessing it is not Ukraine. 😉 > **[Ukraine's MPs brawl in parliament – video](https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/dec/11/ukraines-mps-brawl-in-parliament-video)** > > Fighting breaks out between members of Ukraine’s ruling coalition when Oleh Barna, a member of the president’s bloc, physically picks up the prime minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, and pulls him from the podium ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/3 "2016-03-03T20:01:29Z")
Can we count constitutional monarchies with elected parliaments? If so, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a brawl in the Landtag of Liechtenstein. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/4 "2016-03-03T20:29:47Z")
It’s certainly not India. I’ve read stories about literal riots during sessions of parliment. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/5 "2016-03-03T21:09:35Z")
Is the OP asking about the calmness of political discourse within the national legislature, or within the society at large? Because those might not always correlate closely. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/6 "2016-03-03T21:14:11Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Can we count constitutional monarchies with elected parliaments? If so, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a brawl in the Landtag of Liechtenstein. You obviously weren’t there when they discussed changing the color of their stamps. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/7 "2016-03-03T21:21:26Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Is the OP asking about the calmness of political discourse within the national legislature, or within the society at large? Because those might not always correlate closely. Society at large. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/8 "2016-03-03T21:50:06Z")
Hong Kong has seemed pretty chill since they’ve gotten some rights in the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/9 "2016-03-03T22:34:12Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Hong Kong has seemed pretty chill since they’ve gotten some rights in the 90’s. Youtube has some vids for “Hong Kong parliament fight”. [This one is interesting in that the arguing members slip into English when they get angry.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt1SiGh1IvU) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/10 "2016-03-03T23:15:06Z")
Apparently [Canadians in general rather pride themselves on their polite and reasonable approach to political debate](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/has-donald-trump-set-the-civility-bar-lower-for-everyone-1.3162529). Or maybe they just look good because they’re standing next to us? > [@](#): > > Even so, there is some evidence that the Canadian public has little patience for political ads that are sophomoric or brazenly misleading. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/11 "2016-03-03T23:20:49Z")
Tbh, I love the political discourse in the UK. I think it’s helped greatly by a combination of two things; the obligation to impartiality on the part of media and - as many will have seen - the adversarial approach to argument in politics itself. The fact of a well-funned public service broadcaster taking it’s social responsibility very seriously doesn’t hurt ether: > **[BBC iPlayer - BBC Parliament](https://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/bbcparliament)** > > Watch BBC Parliament live, find TV programme listings and schedules, plus enjoy your favourite shows on BBC iPlayer. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/12 "2016-03-03T23:40:26Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I think it’s helped greatly by a combination of two things; the obligation to impartiality on the part of media That only applies to broadcast media though. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/13 "2016-03-03T23:54:22Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Apparently [Canadians in general rather pride themselves on their polite and reasonable approach to political debate](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/has-donald-trump-set-the-civility-bar-lower-for-everyone-1.3162529). They’re afraid the sergeant at arms will put an end to any unrest in Parliament 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/14 "2016-03-03T23:59:01Z")
Shoulda been here in '95, in the run-up to the Quebec referendum. Anglos wiping their feet on the Québécois flag, Francos ditto with the Maple Leaf. Was not a fun time. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/15 "2016-03-04T08:38:12Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Tbh, I love the political discourse in the UK. > > I think it’s helped greatly by a combination of two things; the obligation to impartiality on the part of media and - as many will have seen - the adversarial approach to argument in politics itself. TV channels are supposed to be impartial. The press are under no such obligation or enforcement procedure (as could in extremis be applied to TV), and they tend to have an influence on the overall news agenda, as to what are salient issues and prevailing moods. Hence the way in which people generally over-estimate the generosity of welfare benefits of various kinds, levels of immigration, sizes of ethnic minority communities, and so on. True, there is no paid political advertising on TV; instead parties that develop enough of a presence (the criteria vary over time) get guaranteed time slots at election time to show their own broadcasts, which are usually pretty dire and an occasion to go and put the kettle on. All of which keeps the temperature down. Debate in Parliament may be governed by all sorts of elaborate rules of courtesy, but you can still come out with all sorts of nonsense, provided it’s personally polite about other members, and there are plenty of hotheads and nutters out on the streets from time to time, or indeed writing newspaper opinion pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/16 "2016-03-04T09:16:54Z")
Switzerland seems to have a pretty calm relation between politicians of different political parties, mainly because they have a pretty unique system of collegial executive where all main parties are represented in the cabinet (with the function of head of state rotating among cabinet members), all cabinet members have to publicly promote the majority decision; also because major policy decisions are decided via referenda the parties have to promote their stances on policy on their merits. All of which seems to contribute to a scarcity of personal vilification in Swiss federal politics. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/17 "2016-03-04T12:30:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Can we count constitutional monarchies with elected parliaments? If so, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a brawl in the Landtag of Liechtenstein. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > You obviously weren’t there when they discussed changing the color of their stamps. In fact, it seems to me there was some significant political controversy regarding the prince of Liechtenstein’s powers, some years ago. > [@Mops](#): > > Switzerland seems to have a pretty calm relation between politicians of different political parties, mainly because they have a pretty unique system of collegial executive where all main parties are represented in the cabinet. I too would vote for Switzerland for this reason. I believe that some years ago they had to change the composition of the cabinet, that had been pretty much identical for decades, to reflect an electoral evolution (more votes for a nationalist party, I believe) and the process went smoothly, despite the novelty of the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/18 "2016-03-04T12:45:33Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Tbh, I love the political discourse in the UK. > > I think it’s helped greatly by a combination of two things; the obligation to impartiality on the part of media and - as many will have seen - the adversarial approach to argument in politics itself. > > The fact of a well-funned public service broadcaster taking it’s social responsibility very seriously doesn’t hurt ether: > > [BBC Parliament - BBC iPlayer](http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/bbcparliament) Just to clarify - it’s only broadcast media which is meant to remain impartial in the UK. Impartiality doesn’t include print & online media. Yes, a well funded broadcaster takes social responsibility very seriously, so seriously in fact that it downplayed sexual assaults by Muslims grooming gangs for over a decade. They downplayed these attacks for the social & political good. Im not trying to suggest the UK system is better or worse than any other. However, having an “impartial” state broadcaster does have it’s own downside. ---
**Author:** ![here\_and\_there](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f07891/32.png) [@here\_and\_there](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/here_and_there)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/19 "2016-03-04T15:21:13Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > in a calm, fair, rational, factual-based way? …Democracy doesn’t work like that. :rolleyes: …maybe? . . . . (… because humans don’t work like that? maybe? ) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859/20 "2016-03-04T16:34:29Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > Im not trying to suggest the UK system is better or worse than any other. However, having an “impartial” state broadcaster does have it’s own downside. Not wanting to derail the thread, But I think calling the BBC a ‘state broadcaster’ is pretty misleading. It’s tax payer funded, but it isn’t a wing of The State, political or impartial. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-democracy-has-the-calmest-most-rational-political-discourse/747859.md?page=2)