# Why does the West have such a hardon for democracy?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-west-have-such-a-hardon-for-democracy/568601>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 22, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-west-have-such-a-hardon-for-democracy/568601 "2011-01-22T21:30:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 75

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**Author:** ![Commissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@Commissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commissar)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-west-have-such-a-hardon-for-democracy/568601/75 "2011-01-26T20:12:42Z")

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> [@cmkeller](#):
>
> Commissar:
> 
> Revolutions are just an expression of might-makes-right, like a military coup. It may (if the populace is lucky) end up reflecting the will of the populace, but it cannot be regarded as an expression merely of will.

I’m putting the constraints of the real world above useless moral considerations. Sure, ideally we would all sit around in a big circle and reach a just political consensus. Doesn’t always work out that way, and implementing a system of voting does little to address the lack of consensus.

So, yes, in some situations, might really does make right. While a coup may or may not fall into this category, I maintain that a people’s revolution certainly does. Nothing is more just than a battle in the streets; no matter what happens, the outcome will reflect the true will of the majority of the people. Revolutions are a beautiful thing, and a unique equalizer in this dark world of ours.

> [@](#):
>
> After all, plenty of revolutions fail, and fail brutally. Think Hungary 56, Czechoslovakia 77, Tianmen Square 89. Revolution is rather certainly an inferior manner of popular expression compared with democracy.

Your three examples of failed revolutions are really bad, and seem to be organized in increasing level of ridiculousness. Tianmen Square? Really?!? I didn’t realize that a riot by a small group of adolescent hooligans qualifies as a “revolution.” This riot was put down for the very simple reason that it completely failed to represent the will of the people, and thus lacked popular support. This reinforces my position, rather than contradict it.

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