Why democracy is failing | Paddy Ashdown | TEDxBrussels

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Why Democracy is Failing

Lord Ashdown is a former member of the British Parliament and a diplomat with a lifelong commitment to international cooperation. Throughout his career, Paddy Ashdown has moved across the international stage. He served as a Royal Marine and an intelligence officer in MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, before becoming a member of Parliament. In 1988 he became the first leader of the newly formed Liberal Democrat party. After leaving Parliament he served as the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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[chrisogonas]

Power by The People, and Power to The People! Well articulated! 👏👏👏

[freedomfromtyranny]

Spoken the truth which is very hard these days to realise that Politics is not being served to its citizens. Thank you Mr Ashdown for shining the torch of your revelations. 👏👏👏

[srinivasan.nasavinirs]

Lord Ashdown’s thoughts on governance are not just solutions to what ails many human clusters these days. They are the cumulative resonance of a life-long deep and thick engagement with people. He made my day!

[wtwarrior]

Democracies were made to rule cities, not countries, let alone empires. Assuming that democracy at level city is not already corrupt imgine then at a bigger frame.

[justadam]

I'm 6 years in the future You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet certainly after watching this we're getting no better

[realdemocracy]

He's talking about a move away from representative democracy towards participatory democracy.

[justadam]

It's lobbyists nothing but lobbyists the politicians become their dependents the benefits they Reap from these deals is immense on both sides we have to hold our politicians to a higher standard

[andrewpierce]

Democracy is failing because of those who democracy would threaten their power, either economic or political.

[aussieevonne]

Wow. I'm only 7 mins in, and I'm looking at the publishing date. This speech sounds like it could have been made 18 months later. I mean, up til 7 mins in, it sounds still really relevant.

[Travel_addict_]

It is more interesting reading the comments than listening to this guy. It is a dangerous thing to say democracy is failing because that means changing with another system, and i don’t see any another system that can work better for the people.

[carnivaltym]

If politicians delivered on their promises we wouldn't be so disillusioned with the establishment.

[tarik]

The only High Representative Bosnia & Herzegovina ever had who showed a modicum of appreciation for what was actually needed to take the country towards a democratic, liberal future. That's why he's reviled both by Serb & Croat nationalists and their numerous respective enablers.

[curiouswormm]

I am an indian. And democracy sucks here. To take any decision, it takes 40-50years here. You can take decision s only when there is a majority party.

Decision making process is always delayed or hindered by opposition for the sake of appeasement of their vote banks.
Communist china has lifted 300 millions people out of poverty. India has pushed 100 millions into poverty.

Only idiots or sugarcoaters only become leaders in a democracy rather than a competent person.
An average person has no idea about country's economy, foreign policy, etc. They votes on the basis of emotions and appeasement rather than information.
Plato has said more about these problems.

[FLAMEalan]

How about we make a start by getting rid of certain aspects of political correctness.

[micheleeve]

If, as he says, govts. lack ultimate power, because sovereignty is actually held by global markets (ie. finance), then how will deferring govt. power to the people change market sovereignty over us? It isn't as simple as market forces as has been proved over the last few decades.

[DollyPocket]

I’m so pleased Paddy Pants Down lived long enough to eat his hat and see the Brexit referendum.

[alloomis]

there is no democracy, outside of helvetia. what is failing is that modern evolution of feudalism properly called 'elective aristocracy.'

[AdeshSrivastavaOfficial]

Lovely to see the tagore's poem couples cited by you . Proud of my heritage and my forefathers like Tagore. Proud Indian 🇮🇳

[georgeroberts]

"...he who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed." -- Abraham Lincoln, from his First Debate with Stephen Douglas at Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858. Read in con

[James-nq]

The voices of unity and progressive politics, sounds very nice and cosy. But what about all those voices from people who's livelihoods have been trashed by progressive politics( neoliberalism)..are they harsh and raucous..far left and extreme right or are they just people asking for a little fairness, while watching inequality grow to new extremes and our politicians find new phrases that make it all sound ever so acceptable.