The Danger to Democracy

 

Simply put, it is the opportunity that the broad electorate has to put its own selfish interests ahead of the community’s.

Or, in language of fables, it has the ability – and strong temptation – to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

These thoughts are prompted by the action of Democratic party leaders who want the Federal $600 weekly payment to unemployed workers to continue.  This, despite the common sense fact that paying money to people who are not working is a disincentive for many to return to work. 

Further, given that the national debt is already well above twenty trillion dollars, this expenditure means spending money the government doesn’t have.  So money printing presses go into overdrive and the prospect for inflation accelerates.

Yet who can challenge the appeal of getting money for “free”?

Republicans are put in the difficult position of trying to retain whatever public popularity they can while arguing for both fiscal and social responsibility.

In this day and age, we use the term “democracy” in a loose sense to describe a self-governing society in which citizens have the right to vote for members of their government.  Classically, however, it meant that all eligible members of the citizenry (slaves, women and children excluded) were the government and determined policy by a defined majority.

But historically, majority rule in the classic sense has proven to be short-lived.  The majority exploits the minority which rebels and the government collapses, followed by dictatorship and autocracy.

The U.S. Constitution was designed to thwart that tendency of democracy by providing structure for a limited (restraint on popular will) government that is more correctly labeled a Republic (rule by representation, not the public directly).

Of course, spending other people’s money or having others pay the costs of what one wants is popular (doing what is right or proper may have less appeal).  The Democratic Party makes it a practice to go for the popular --  Republicans are placed in the role of trying to limit “excessive” spending.  A public perception of GOP stinginess is the consequence.

Inevitably, for short-term political reasons, Republicans give in at least partially and the fiscal insanity continues.

The survival of self-government, our Founders knew, is dependent upon responsible leaders and citizens.  The absence of such today is obvious.

Thus, there is substantial reason to question the longevity of the American Goose.