'Hitler came to power by democratic election, and he killed seven million Jews. One-person, one-vote is no panacea.' --Regina Ip defending the lack of democracy in China, at a forum on Article 23 at City University of Hong Kong, October 28, 2002
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Citing Hitler’s rise via elections, the speaker argues that democracy alone does not guarantee safety.
- In plain terms
- Democracy isn’t a cure‑all for preventing tyranny.
- What can you take from it?
- Combine democratic structures with safeguards.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can democracy be protected from abuse?
- What additional measures are needed?
Another view
The analogy oversimplifies complex historical causes.
More from Regina Ip
'Are you seriously telling me that taxi drivers, restaurant waiters and workers at McDonald's will want to discuss these proposals with me? A draft bill is for…
Permalink to quote #2 'I have no problems with comment that is meant to criticize or scrutinize. I respond only because there has been exaggeration, misrepresentation, and descripti…
Permalink to quote #4 'If I can't defend even my hair(style), how can I defend Hong Kong?' -- Regina Ip responding to a radio talk show.
Permalink to quote #1
Related quotes
I think we're at a time in American history that's probably analogous to, maybe, Rome before the first emperors, when the Republic started to fall... I think i…
Wesley ClarkWesley Clark quote #7 Democracy passes into despotism.
PlatoPlato quote #41 The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not efficiently chec…
John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun quote #1