Our democracy, is a system that allows every man over a certain age to come to the Pnyx and discuss important issues facing our Athenian state. Many of you have already concluded in your own minds that everyone who is a citizen should vote and speak on every matter in order that our democracy present itself as true and fair. Every idea from every citizen is essential. However, I would like to point out the lack of effectiveness in this system of government.
First, I would like us to consider the idea of everyone being able to give input, and everyone being able to have their voice heard. There are around 6,000 men in each assembly meeting, even more now that metics have the right to vote. There is one meeting every nine days. That is around forty meetings each year. Assemblies have a day set aside, so we’ll assume they last 24 hours just for the sake of math. Therefore, each man can only speak around 9.6 minutes that whole year of meetings. What a small number! Besides, we all know that our assemblies don’t …show more content…
Many of you may remember Alcibiades, an eloquent speaker. He spoke in the assembly during our short peace with Sparta. Even though we had fought many years without rest, Alcibiades pushed for a campaign in Sicily, and despite our better judgement, he won over our assembly and led one of the most humiliating wars in our history. Another example is Cleon. He was also a gifted speaker which, consequently, almost led to us needlessly killing the women and children of the island of Mytilene. Once we cleared our heads from his poisonous speech, we sent ship a ship to recall the ones sent to kill them. One man was able to persuade us to do something stupid. How long before another talented rhetorician leads us astray? Because men are easily swayed by words, we must make sure they only hear the ones built on sound judgement, but with this system of government, we
First, I would like us to consider the idea of everyone being able to give input, and everyone being able to have their voice heard. There are around 6,000 men in each assembly meeting, even more now that metics have the right to vote. There is one meeting every nine days. That is around forty meetings each year. Assemblies have a day set aside, so we’ll assume they last 24 hours just for the sake of math. Therefore, each man can only speak around 9.6 minutes that whole year of meetings. What a small number! Besides, we all know that our assemblies don’t …show more content…
Many of you may remember Alcibiades, an eloquent speaker. He spoke in the assembly during our short peace with Sparta. Even though we had fought many years without rest, Alcibiades pushed for a campaign in Sicily, and despite our better judgement, he won over our assembly and led one of the most humiliating wars in our history. Another example is Cleon. He was also a gifted speaker which, consequently, almost led to us needlessly killing the women and children of the island of Mytilene. Once we cleared our heads from his poisonous speech, we sent ship a ship to recall the ones sent to kill them. One man was able to persuade us to do something stupid. How long before another talented rhetorician leads us astray? Because men are easily swayed by words, we must make sure they only hear the ones built on sound judgement, but with this system of government, we