List of Pros and Cons of Direct Democracy

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, direct democracy is when the people of a nation or entity are handed the complete freedom to decide on their own fate. When the people need to speak with the governing bodies that are in charge, they are able to do directly, without fear of reprisal. While implementing this system may seem like a great idea across the board, in reality, there are downsides and upsides. People need to be made fully aware of each pro and con, so that they can make the most informed decision possible. Read on to learn more about these pros and cons.

List Of Pros Of Direct Democracy

1. Complete and Total Transparency
Direct democracy promotes a level of transparency between citizens and their government that is simply unrivaled by other forms of government. A society’s progress relies more on the people, as opposed to the government by itself. The discussion of important issues takes place directly, leading to greater trust.

2. Greater Government Accountability
Since people are able to voice their concerns in a direct fashion, this leads to much more greater government accountability. There is no mistake made when it comes to meeting the needs of the proletariat, because the government hears it straight from them. There is no middleman to muddle the message.

3. Increased Society Cooperation
When people are allowed to speak their minds in a direct democracy, this leads to far less unrest and civil disobedience. Citizens who know that their voice matters are far more apt to participate in things that will improve the society that they currently live in, as opposed to tearing it down.

List Of Cons Of Direct Democracy

1. Harder To Make Decisions
In a situation where each and every citizen is allowed to have a voice, it becomes far more difficult to reach a consensus. Deciding whose voices to listen to and whose voices are not important is not a decision that can be made easily and can lead people not to believe in direct democracy.

2. Public Doesn’t Always Get Involved
As great of an idea as direct democracy looks like on paper, it only works when the public truly gets on board with it. Sometimes, certain elements are lost in the execution. Unless everyone is willing to do their share and contribute, the government’s effort and time end up going to waste.

3. Increased Tension
Since direct democracy requires citizens to come together and agree on important issues, it can be very difficult to live in a society this way. When people are at odds on key issues and only one side is able to get what they want, this leads to far greater tension on a day to day basis.