Dear Baya,

  You often remind me that when I first came across the word ‘Democracy’ I pronounced it ‘Demo-Crazy’. Maybe I was right! It does still seem to me a little crazy. But I’ll be voting soon and I’d really appreciate it if you could explain simply what it is about.

What does the word mean? Why is democracy (according to some people) so important? Where did democracy come from?

    Perhaps you could explain how it is that a system which hands over power for four or more years to a bunch of people who often seem to forget why we voted for them or listen to what we say is so great? I heard someone joke that it is the worst of all possible systems – except for the rest, which are even worse. Is that all that can be said for it? Is it a bit like the cautionary tale you used to read to me about the boy eaten by a lion in the zoo:

‘But always keep a hold of nurse,

For fear of finding something worse’

     There are lots of things I’d like to know. What is meant by the ‘tyranny of the majority’? What happens when democracies are threatened.?  What makes them collapse? Can democracy last? Why has England been so important in the development of  democracy?

    Do let me know and give me a little help. But please keep it down to earth. Politics can get awfully dry and abstract.

     Lots of love,