Which Governments Reflect The Will Of The People?

Adam Smith · November 12, 2002, 00:54

A recent study by public opinoin firms Gallup International and Environics sought to determine the attitude of citizens toward their government. The survey covered 47 nations throughout the world. One question on the survey asked whether the citizens thought their government reflected the will of the people. In only four of the 47 countries did the majority of people surveyed think this was the case. Which countries do you think they were? (I do not know the entire list of 47 countries surveyed, so this may be true of some countries beyond those participating in the survey.)

NeOmega · November 12, 2002, 01:02

The Netherlands, Portugal, Iceland and Costa Rica

Lawrence of Arabia · November 12, 2002, 01:17

I don't know, but I know that it was in a parliamentary democracy with coalitions.

DanS · November 12, 2002, 01:19

Interesting... Look at the areas at the bottom of the list.

Nubclear · November 12, 2002, 01:20

Hmm....I would think people who are affected by propaganda and/or opressed....

Iraq, China, North Korea, United States?

DRoseDARs · November 12, 2002, 01:26

Can someone provide a good link to the results? I tried the Gallup's official website, but me thinks it's in the premium (re:SUBSCRIPTION) section.

orange · November 12, 2002, 01:27

Quote:

The Netherlands, Portugal, Iceland and Costa Rica

The Netherlands, Iceland, and Costa Rica are good choices...but Portugal? Nah...prolly another Scandy...like Norway or :gasp: Finland

The Vagabond · November 12, 2002, 01:30

Russia and the US are definitely among those four.

NeOmega · November 12, 2002, 01:31

Well I chose Portugal for it's lax enforcement of speeding laws, and the fact that all drugs are legal there.

Plus whens the last time you have seen protesting in Portugal? Oh and my last name is Portuguese. (Dias)

EDIT: my first reaction was The netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Costa Rica

Frozzy · November 12, 2002, 01:32

I would say Finland do... I'm not sure about NZ, or any of the major EU countries, like France or Germany.

Okay... my 4: Finland

, NZ

, Iraq (Well...

) and Switzerland.

Pekka · November 12, 2002, 01:36

No way there's Finland. Just No Way. If that is so, it tells me that the people are happy with them and change is not near.. and that's the last drop, and I'll be leaving this hell whole for good, like I've been planning for a long time.

NeOmega · November 12, 2002, 01:42

POrtugal: explained a few posts up. Also the portuguese posters around here seem to be pretty proud of their history.

Iceland: Has no army. Therefore the government must nt have a whole lot of authority over it's people.

Costa Rica: Also has no army. Plus Libertarians hold quite a few seats in their parliament.

The Netherlands: It seems to be a democracy I could stand to live in. :legal toke:

edit BTW I just remembered an interesting post here at Apolyton....

but also, I've never been to Europe or Costa Rica, so I really have no clue.

The Vagabond · November 12, 2002, 01:44

Whoever those four are, they definitely form the Quadrilateral of Evil.

orange · November 12, 2002, 01:48

all drugs are legal in Portugal?

NeOmega · November 12, 2002, 01:51

yup for about a year and a half now

NeOmega · November 12, 2002, 01:54

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=64748

world happiness map

Shi Huangdi · November 12, 2002, 01:56

I doubt it is too likely that they come from the US/Canada/Europe. In the US there is skepticism that the government is hostage to the special interests, in the rest of the west I think there may also be belief that the government serves the powerful and wealthy.

I will guess Israel, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand

NeOmega · November 12, 2002, 02:00

oops, sorry, marijuana is "legal" in Italy, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands. I guess all drugs are not legal in POrtugal.

EDIT: I am currently looking up a news story in Portugal relaying this, all though I see it in many writings, I am not sure if their "fact" is legit.... allthough it is something I have heard and assumed to be true for a while.

EDIT2: OK, I have found plenty of credible writing. All drugs have been decriminalized in Portugal.

Ramo · November 12, 2002, 03:04

I'm going with the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and New Zealand.

orange · November 12, 2002, 03:07

Quote:

Originally posted by NeOmega
EDIT2: OK, I have found plenty of credible writing. All drugs have been decriminalized in Portugal.

source?

Ramo · November 12, 2002, 03:13

I thought the Portuguese only had an "experiment" in the decriminalization of certain hard drugs, as other places have recently done (for instance, a certain city in England IIRC).

orange · November 12, 2002, 03:15

i'm not trying to doubt NeOmega...but that would be news to me...i was under the same impression as you Ramo

Adam Smith · November 12, 2002, 11:17

Shi Huangdi got one of the four. Nobody else is close.

*bump*

TheStinger · November 12, 2002, 12:43

Taiwan, South Korea, Switzerland and Sri Lanka

Dauphin · November 12, 2002, 12:46

I remember reading a recent poll that said 51% of adults in Britain trust the Government to 'operate in the best interests of society’. I doubt this is the same as 'the will of the people' though.

GePap · November 12, 2002, 12:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi

I will guess Israel, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand

Read an Israeli paper, and you will see that most israelis think their politicians corrupt and incompetent. Taiwan's party system, as well as Japans, are also thought to be highly corrupt, and japan has been in an economic doldrum for 10 years.

Perhaps NZ, but the other ones? No.