THE FLAWS OF DEMOCRACY

Plato and Socrates hated democracy. They believed it is not for poor societies and that people who are so beaten down in poverty could never understand the nuances of issues that ought to be considered in electing leaders. Nigeria and the world has adopted democracy. Is it really true that it is the least bad form of government? That is an open debate.

Still democracy is fraught with corruption. See the below story i came across about American democracy in the 1800s. I knew that even in the 1930s open bribery in America's south went on on voting days. Till tomorrow in parts of England too. Tower Hamlets is an usual example. This is not to support the brigands in 'democracy', but to take a note of history

During the 1828 U.S. presidential election, Tammany Hall leaders met with Democratic candidate Andrew Jackson and agreed to endorse him after he promised to give them control over the allocation of some federal jobs.[35] After he was elected president, Jackson fulfilled his promise.[35] After 1829, Tammany Hall became the city affiliate of the Democratic Party, controlling most of the New York City elections afterwards.[36] In the 1830s the Loco-Focos, an anti-monopoly and pro-labor faction of the Democratic Party, became Tammany's main rival for votes by appealing to workingmen, however, their political opponent remained the Whigs.

During the 1834 New York City mayoral governor election, the first city election whereby the mayor was elected by the popular vote, both Tammany Hall and the Whig party, from their headquarters at the Masonic Hall, battled in the streets for votes and protected polling locations in their respective regions from known opposition voters.[37] During the 1838 state election for governor, the rival Whig party imported voters from Philadelphia, paying $22 a head for votes in addition to paying for votes at their polling places.

Tammany Hall operatives continued their practice of paying prisoners of the alms houses for votes and also paying for votes at their polling places.[38] Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, the Society expanded its political control even further by earning the loyalty of the city's ever-expanding immigrant community, which functioned as a base of political capital.

-TOPE FASUA