Answer:
- worth of the individual
- equality of all persons
- majority rule, minority rights
- necessity of compromise
- individual freedom
Democracy requires the following things.
First and foremost is “Freedom of Speech.” Without this democracy cannot survive. The ability to speak your mind without government interference is crucial to any democratic society.
Second is “Freedom of the Press.” The role that the press plays in any democracy ensures that all sides of an issue is heard, not just the government spin or what the government want you to hear.
Third is “Freedom of Religion and Freedom from Religion.” The two concepts go hand in hand. You must be able to worship freely and without fear of repercussions and attack for your beliefs. That said, you must be able to choose not to believe in a religion and not be forced by anyone including the government or religious leaders forcing this prospect on you.
Fourth is “Freedom of Assembly.” This is the fourth pillar in any democracy. You must be able to join together with people of like mind, political view, religious views and to be able to use this platform to go to your government and peacefully protest the government for actions you believe are not in the best interest of your country. President Lincoln said it best that a government should be “Of the People, By the People and For the People.” The US Constitution and our Bill of Rights enshrine these beliefs and should be promoted throughout the world, because all human beings deserve nothing less.
By Art Haddow of Mesa, Arizona.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_foundations_of_democracy#ixzz1mDDTOBQ5
