the key values of democracy:
Foxy,
If you're looking for an argument, you won't get one with this. The problem is that the loudest proponents for democracy are the least compliant with these values.
it's like putting the mad in charge of the mental home.

Foxy, We need to evaluate other forms of Government against Democratic values and ensure we have it right and refuse citizenship to anyone who is not prepared to live by those values. Socialist values is about self interest in the long run as is the behaviour of some under a democratic society.

Foxy said -
"Lets look at what are the key values of democracy:
1) The need for free and fair elections.
2) Freedom of speech.
3) Equality before the law.
4) Active citizen participation.
5) Protection of minority rights."

Answer- I wonder what Foxy would say if the population voted against protection of minority rights- contradiction.

This is a situation when you can't have both (1) and (5). Foxy might argue that (5) takes precedence- I believe that (1) has more validity.

I find the delineation of minorities fairly arbitrary which contradicts item (3).

There is a tension between the politics of envy and the politics of greed. Currently we have abandoned the teaching of Christianity that deals with that problem. Envy leads to theft, rape and murder which is idolatry of false gods, greed leads to avarice, gluttony [over indulgence] and self protection which is also idolatry of false gods. Currently Western society is gripped in the extremes of that tension. One wants what others have justly or greedily worked for: the other wants to accumulate as many toys around them as possible and not see others real needs. It has been the influence of the teachings of Jesus that has broken down that tension by the development of education for all, health and housing for all, food and clothing for all; not by stealing from the rich but by motivating those that have to care for one's neighbour. We have lost the motives of values that love: Love God, love neighbour: and prefer the motives of I'm only going to look after myself - selfishness.

At one stage in the early Jewish Church they tried communism but it failed because of selfishness. They failed because they abandoned the idea of work to prepare for the future. Thirty years after it started the Gentile Churches were supporting them. Pure socialism does not work because of selfishness, equally pure capitalism does not work equally because of selfishness. We have grown up in a system of "Looking after number ONE!" [without restraint] "God helps those that help themselves!" [Mostly to other peoples property]. Check the motives to welfare and income.

//Love God, love neighbour//

Well you've definitely got the first part sorted out; shame about the second. Still, one out of two ain't bad. It's just that I prefer it the other way around, when people love their fellow man more than their chosen deity.

Toni, a persons god is what they value as the essence of their life, the things they live by. Their spirit, their real character and actions the deep values of their soul. Christianity teaches love of the source of all things especially life and character. Most today are obsessed with self and how they desire others view them. Commercialism promotes this image, "you must have"! as the essence of life. So external content to inner self has become the most valuable acquirement. A proper understanding of one's inner self can only translate to truly loving one's neighbour.