Ancient Athens shows just how the people can become the mob, and how even the most enlightened cultures of their times can succumb to a suicidal collective hysteria. All due to a desire for the easy "fix" to problems. People vote for whatever short term satisfaction their collective Id wants: revenge, safety, or luxury. Eventually the processes of democracy are too slow to satisfy them, so they find a strongman who promises quick and easy solutions if only he is given the power to do them....history has yet to record this ending well.
Words to the wise.
People vote with their pocketbooks
ReplyDeletePocketbooks, egos, phobias.
DeletePart of the problem from my little open-elitist viewpoint is that people without the ability to delay gratification until even next payday have an equal vote to me.