I have heard this notion before, but what do you guys think on it?

Does Democracy only work when living conditions and amentites are pletniful for those who live under this system?

I heard two quotes which always stayed in my mind ;)

One is from a Dutch singer: Whats democracy worth without a job, a house?
The other from someone whom I forgot: Democracy is the best of all bad systems :)
I dont know what system is the best or what will work best to keep everybody satisfied, that will very probably be impossible. :D

don't think that democracy has anything to do with housing and/or jobs
we live in a democracy and have unemployed people but please explain to me how it is possible that lots of job opportunities stay open....

I think you are partially quoting Winston Churchill where he said... "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried."

As for the original question I think living conditions and plentiful amenities are a bi-product of a functioning democracy not prerequisite for it.

Read Property and Freedom by Richard Pipes.  He argues that property rights are more important for a free society than political rights (the right to vote, say) and compares those societies in which people could vote but could not own property vs. those in which the opposite was the case.

Ah yes, the right to vote.....

When I was 17 I had to join the army, drafted.
I learned how to fire weapons with awesome, and devastating firepower.
I learned how to make and to place mines and boobytraps.
I learned how to kill people with my bare hands if needed. :reddevil:
I learned how to drive my APC  :tank:....... but I was not allowed at that age to drive a civilian car nor could I vote :) :whistle: hdbng

The beauty of the free world....