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I think there's an important, main point in OP's comment that you are missing. Hong Kong has never really had much democratic process, in terms of direct elect

by closed 7y ago

I think there's an important, main point in OP's comment that you are missing. Hong Kong has never really had much democratic process, in terms of direct elections, and universal suffrage. There are only some roles where this happens. Hong Kong has a long history of protesting this, and of failed attempts of implementing more democratic process. To say it was democratic under British rule is a reach. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_development_in_Hong_Kong https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_development_in_Ho...

Angeo34 7y ago
I never got why people confused democracy with open elections. Open elections are the literal opposite of democracy since it allows people with no understanding to vote.
- closed 7y ago
  > the literal opposite of democracy since it allows people with no understanding to vote. I would need to know the definition of democracy you're using to fully appreciate the meaning of this comment.
- didibus 7y ago
  Its etymology is: "the people's rule". Its definition is: "a system of government by the whole population". I think it's pretty fundamental for democracy that as a member of society you have equal power to govern yourself as everyone else does. What you describe is an Oligarchy. Specifically it seems close to a Geniocracy, Meritocracy, Noocracy or Technocracy. Those are all forms of Oligarchy, where only the "smart", "deserving", "wise", and "experts" get to rule.
- artsyca 7y ago
  I feel you on this Angeo34 -- even the ancient Greeks guarded citizenship and the right to vote very closely, I'd venture closed democracy is the only democracy And I totally understand the irony of what you're saying -- the downvotes only serve to show you have a point Kudos to the CBC for still publishing these sorts of power-to-the-people style pieces
NotSammyHagar 7y ago
I get your point that it wasn't a true or complete democracy in a very real sense. Only the British people got to influence (through national elections in Britain) what was happening there. Russia is a theoretical democracy because you get to vote for Putin or some random non-threatening person. But it's pretty different than living in HK under British rule.

by closed 7y ago

Angeo34 7y ago

I never got why people confused democracy with open elections. Open elections are the literal opposite of democracy since it allows people with no understanding to vote.

closed 7y ago
> the literal opposite of democracy since it allows people with no understanding to vote. I would need to know the definition of democracy you're using to fully appreciate the meaning of this comment.
didibus 7y ago
Its etymology is: "the people's rule". Its definition is: "a system of government by the whole population". I think it's pretty fundamental for democracy that as a member of society you have equal power to govern yourself as everyone else does. What you describe is an Oligarchy. Specifically it seems close to a Geniocracy, Meritocracy, Noocracy or Technocracy. Those are all forms of Oligarchy, where only the "smart", "deserving", "wise", and "experts" get to rule.
artsyca 7y ago
I feel you on this Angeo34 -- even the ancient Greeks guarded citizenship and the right to vote very closely, I'd venture closed democracy is the only democracy And I totally understand the irony of what you're saying -- the downvotes only serve to show you have a point Kudos to the CBC for still publishing these sorts of power-to-the-people style pieces

NotSammyHagar 7y ago

I get your point that it wasn't a true or complete democracy in a very real sense. Only the British people got to influence (through national elections in Britain) what was happening there. Russia is a theoretical democracy because you get to vote for Putin or some random non-threatening person. But it's pretty different than living in HK under British rule.