Iranian government's worst recent and verifiable transgressions? [more inside]
posted by GenTso on Jul 3, 2009 - 5 answers

Who were these "celebrated authors" James Madison was referring to in The Federalist Paper No. 14? [more inside]
posted by Myles on Jun 15, 2009 - 8 answers

I'm too ignorant to properly evaluate a historical claim that I just read. [more inside]
posted by prefpara on Mar 28, 2009 - 34 answers

one world government? a bad idea? [more inside]
posted by brandnew on Dec 12, 2008 - 22 answers

"Is the hope for profound change misdirected in a country where almost 50% of the population voted for the incumbent party?" (Historical perspectives on this question, please) [more inside]
posted by omnigut on Nov 30, 2008 - 17 answers

I'm going to be a first-time volunteer poll worker on Election Day -- any tips, advice, or relevant anecdotes for me? [more inside]
posted by Asparagirl on Oct 18, 2008 - 10 answers

PoliSci filter: I was hoping that someone can rationally, without rhetoric, explain to me why the word "Socialism" creates fear and extreme responses in far right-wing people. Soem very detailed specifics within. [more inside]
posted by arniec on Oct 14, 2008 - 61 answers

What tools for social and political change, beyond litigation, protest, and legislation exist? [more inside]
posted by wonderfullyrich on Aug 11, 2008 - 34 answers

So I'm doing a short film about a cynical Gen-Xer who gets to run the country and I'm looking for songs with either The President, Government, Democracy or something similar for the soundtrack. Ideas? [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Mar 6, 2008 - 46 answers

Advice on protesting Alberto Gonzalez speaking at my campus. [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford on Jan 5, 2008 - 33 answers

I feel the same frustration every presidential primary season. This time around, I'd like to do something about it. [more inside]
posted by EatTheWeak on Dec 6, 2007 - 36 answers

I’m trying to help my students understand the reasons behind censorship in China. They ask very simple and yet very profound questions: Why keep information and knowledge from your people? In the long run, how can a free-thinking populace be anything but good? [more inside]
posted by jackypaper on Nov 21, 2007 - 36 answers

How can I, a US citizen, be more informed about my lawmakers' decisions and whether they're doing a good job? I have an example that I wonder about intensely, today's Senate Intelligence Committee meeting. [more inside]
posted by cmiller on Oct 18, 2007 - 4 answers

What steps can I personally take over the next year to help abolish the electoral system and move to a popular vote for the president? (Live in Brooklyn, don't want to attend a ton of meetings, can donate $50-$100 to charity. Bonus points if I don't end up helping a specific candidate.)
posted by whitewall on Sep 30, 2007 - 12 answers

Why has democracy, at least our version of it in the west, proven so difficult a system of government to maintain in the third/developping world? [more inside]
posted by dflemingdotorg on Oct 27, 2006 - 35 answers

What liberal country should I escape to? [more inside]
posted by fogster on Jul 30, 2006 - 75 answers

Why have advances in technology not led to more participatory democracy? [more inside]
posted by UbuRoivas on Jun 21, 2006 - 22 answers

How do you run for Congress? [more inside]
posted by papakwanz on Nov 29, 2005 - 16 answers

I'm trying to find an old article about Tim Berners-Lee and the relationship between the WWW and democracy. There was a quote that went something like: "Tim built democracy into the fabric of the web." [more inside]
posted by idontlikewords on May 7, 2005 - 6 answers

PoliticalTheoryFilter: Given that all forms of government are eventually unsustainable or only last a certain time for whatever reason, does spreading Democracy to places that never had it actually hasten its decline? (tiny bit more inside) [more inside]
posted by amberglow on Jan 16, 2005 - 30 answers

When I filed my absentee ballot yesterday, the clerk insisted that my father and I vote in pencil... (more inside) [more inside]
posted by nelleish on Oct 14, 2004 - 14 answers

Can someone please explain why a candidate gets all of the electoral votes in a given state if they have the majority of votes in that state?

Wouldn't it be more sensible and accurate to allow electoral votes to be distributed according to the percent of votes carried by each candidate in that state?

Am I missing something?
posted by fenriq on Oct 8, 2004 - 19 answers

Amy Chua's book "World On Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability"discusses how ethnic minorities in many developing countries dominate the country economically. (The Chinese in many southeast Asian countries, whites in parts of Africa, etc)

Do any other MeFites know of other books or resources that discuss this phenomenon? (which undoubtely will only become more prevalaent as the world globalizes)
posted by jare2003 on Oct 5, 2004 - 3 answers

Can a free people in a democratic country that has grown to such an enormous power remain to its historically told ideals of basic human rights, government from and for the people? Could the desire for control of that power be great enough to collapse a free society? Is humankind enslaved to war?
posted by the fire you left me on Apr 30, 2004 - 22 answers

In the gray, Mathowie wrote, "it's my hope that all Americans take part in the democratic process ... I'm kinda pissed that American Idol logs half as many votes as the entire last presidential election every wednesday night. Get out there and vote, people!" I admit that I haven't voted in ten years. Why should I? [More inside.] [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Apr 23, 2004 - 95 answers