People in so many countries look up to the United States as a model of democracy, but I doubt if that can continue. It leaves me with a great sense of loss.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Democracy is not the end point of mankind. There may be developments in many different directions in the coming centuries. Democracy has only existed for about 200 years. It started out with the American Declaration of Independence. The Americans got their ideas from the Europeans, in the main from the French, the Dutch and the British.
Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world but the engine of our own renewal. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.
But at the same time, I think we recognize we can't impose democracy from without, particularly American-style democracy. We need to work with those elements in the region that are moving towards a reformed process and there are a number of them.
American democracy must be a failure because it places the supreme authority in the hands of the poorest and most ignorant part of the society.
Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.
Democracy is an experimental system. I like it when states try out new ideas. I think we ought to expand, not contract, our federalist system.
Based on what our country stands for. We can't fail to stand for democracy.
Democracy, obviously, is something we don't want to give up, but it does create chaos. It means the guy next door can do what he wants, and it creates a collision of thinking. In cities, that means people build whatever they want.
Politically, of course, the U.S., despite the flaws in its systems, is still a democracy - we like to associate with democracies. And strategically, the U.S. is a counter-balance to China, a rising China that is not yet a democracy.
I think, as a general matter, clearly, the United States globally supports the development of democracy and the democratic yearnings of all people.