The Athenians had a really important rule called Ostracism. Basically whenever a politician would become too powerful, would become corrupt, or would be deemed as someone undermining the state, they could be voted into exile for 10 years (and thus banned from legal or indirect political participation for 10 years). Say what you will about Athens having slavery while also preaching democracy, but this rule was essential in keeping the Athenian democracy safe for centuries.
So, my dear random Westoids, democracy isn’t about fascists, reactionaries and rich assholes being able to freely spew their bullshit.
Except athenian democracy was not safe, just as most city states it had many coups and had periods of monarchy and oligarchy too. And commonly considered greatest period of democracy was when politics there was completely dominated by Pericles and his faction.
The Athenians had a really important rule called Ostracism. Basically whenever a politician would become too powerful, would become corrupt, or would be deemed as someone undermining the state, they could be voted into exile for 10 years (and thus banned from legal or indirect political participation for 10 years). Say what you will about Athens having slavery while also preaching democracy, but this rule was essential in keeping the Athenian democracy safe for centuries.
So, my dear random Westoids, democracy isn’t about fascists, reactionaries and rich assholes being able to freely spew their bullshit.
Except athenian democracy was not safe, just as most city states it had many coups and had periods of monarchy and oligarchy too. And commonly considered greatest period of democracy was when politics there was completely dominated by Pericles and his faction.