Western democracies are referred to as representative democracies. They share a common ideology. However, when they transform theory into practice, differences occur. One important difference is a matter of emphasis. Should a system emphasize liberal or responsible principles?
Perhaps therein lies the difference between the Democratic and the Republican party?
Sra
Liberal and responsible are not mutually exclusive. A liberal can be and usually does govern responsibly.
Check these definitions.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/responsible
The choice between emphasizing liberal or responsible principles in a representative democracy is a matter of political ideology and can vary based on the specific context and values of a particular society. To understand this distinction, let's first clarify the concepts of liberal and responsible principles in the context of representative democracy.
Liberal principles, also known as classical liberalism, prioritize individual freedoms, limited government intervention, and protection of civil liberties. This ideology emphasizes individual rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and association, and places importance on individual autonomy and limited government interference in people's lives. Liberal democracies promote the protection of these individual rights and seek to ensure a system of checks and balances that prevent any one group or individual from gaining excessive power.
On the other hand, responsible principles focus on promoting the overall welfare or common good of society. It emphasizes collective interests and social justice, and argues for an active government role in addressing societal issues and inequalities. Responsible democracies often prioritize public welfare, social equality, and redistribution of resources to ensure a fair and just society.
In practical terms, a system that emphasizes liberal principles would prioritize protecting individual liberties, limiting government intervention, and safeguarding personal freedoms. This includes placing importance on civil rights and liberties, ensuring free markets, and protecting individual privacy. On the other hand, a system that emphasizes responsible principles would prioritize issues such as reducing inequality, providing social safety nets, and ensuring access to basic services such as healthcare and education.
Choosing whether to emphasize liberal or responsible principles in a representative democracy depends on the values, priorities, and ideology of a society. Different nations may place different emphases based on their historical, cultural, and economic contexts. Political parties and leaders often propose different policy agendas, which reflect varying degrees of emphasis on each set of principles.
Ultimately, the decision of emphasis relates to a broader societal and political debate that requires active citizen participation, public discourse, and engagement with democratic processes such as elections, civic organizations, and public consultations. Through these channels, citizens can influence political outcomes and shape the direction of their representative democracy based on their own preferences and values.