Democracy promotes patriotism, a deep and abiding sense of love for the country. Order and peace go together.
It strives for welfare of the people. It has to operate according to the public opinion and honour the pledges or oaths made to them.
Democracy being based on general will or public opinion is the best form of government. It operates on the consent of the governed. It is a value-based government. These values are widely accepted, such as, liberty, equality and fraternity. “In a complete democracy no one can, complain that he has not a chance to be heard” (Lowell).
A democratic government exists for the individual, not the individual for it. Only democracy ensures intellectual, moral and personal development of man. Every citizen feels himself sovereign. He is an end in himself. The Rig-Veda declares ‘Yatemahi Swarajye’ (5/66/6): We strive for self-rule.
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The goal of democracy is welfare of the people. It ensures it without any discrimination. It exists for the greatest happiness of the largest number. Democratic government imparts political education to its citizens. They learn toleration, dutifulness, mutual sympathy, and confidence, generosity etc. by participation in public affairs. C.D. Burns has stated that, “A government is a method of education, but the best education is self-education. Therefore, the best government is self-government which is democracy.”
Elections, press, media, public discussion etc. “encourage intelligence, self-reliance, initiative and social sense of freemen by placing the ultimate responsibility for government on the citizens themselves” (Appadorai). It produces the best type of citizens, owing to freedom and spirit of competition. Garner finds increase of efficiency in democracy because of popular election, popular control and popular responsibility.
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People or their representatives themselves run the government. Democracy infuses love for one’s country and prepares himself for making sacrifice to any extent. In such governments, “Popular election, popular control and popular responsibility are more likely to ensure a greater degree of efficiency than any other system of government” (Garner).
Democracy produces popular and stable government. There are elections after fixed intervals. People bring about government of their choice. Such government “is not likely to be revolutionary” (Gilchrist). “The whole people or some numerous portion of them, exercise governing power through deputies periodically elected by themselves” (J.S. Mill). Rules are changed without making use of violent and revolutionary methods. People wait till next elections.