In the documentary \u201cPlease Vote for Me,\u201d we observe how even with participation from \u201ccitizens,\u201d democracy is still extremely susceptible to failure. The elections in this classroom have no real consequences, resulting in the kids engaging in acts of bribery, ridicule, and other hostile behavior, seen almost constantly throughout the film. Xioafei, for example, is the target of horrible insults before she even is allowed to perform her flute solo, serving as a clear example of how democracy can easily decline into a battle to undermine and discredit one\u2019s opponent.<\/p>\n
While most watching this would instantly recognized how flawed their class election is, what is shown in \u201cPlease Vote for Me\u201d is eerily similar to American democracy. Candidates for a plethora of elected positions constantly resort to attempting to politically ruin their opponent by foul play and other dishonest means, resulting in a system that is brutal and ugly. This nearly defeats the purpose of democracy as an entirety, as candidates\u2019 methods in seeking election invalidate the sophisticated and elegant system that democracy is designed to enable. At the end, the students vote for Luo Lei, the obvious worst choice for class monitor as he is authoritarian and often resorts to physical violence against his fellow students, further emphasizing how even with participation in a democratic election, oftentimes bribes and falsehoods result in an unfit candidate rising to power.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the documentary \u201cPlease Vote for Me,\u201d we observe how even with participation from \u201ccitizens,\u201d democracy is still extremely susceptible to failure. The elections in this classroom have no real consequences, resulting in the kids engaging in acts of bribery, … Continue reading