Democracy and Power 102: Voters are rationally ignorant.
Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. H.L. Mencken
It's the Spending, Stupid
A chronic voter 'concern' has now exploded into a broad public movement.
Recently, President Obama stated the "concerns" of the America public:
"They saw the Recovery Act," he said. "They saw TARP. They saw the auto bailout. And they look at these and think, 'God, all these huge numbers adding up.' So they're right to be concerned about that."
Deceptively, the President didn't mention the trillion dollars more he spent with ObamaCare. Daniel Henninger, in the Wall Street Journal, observes this "concern" pre dates Obama and Bush.
I'm convinced that beneath all the economic turbulence in the land is anxiety that's been building for years as public spending has continued to grow. What was a chronic "concern" has exploded this year into a broad public movement—in Washington, California, New York, New Jersey and indeed across Europe. This isn't "concern," Mr. President. It's a crisis.
Correct. The crisis is spending, which the public has coalesced against. However the pathological malady is the lack of restrictions on the all-powerful and coercive power of government
This is a major problem with all democracies. None have effective structural limitations on the power to tax, borrow and spend. Additionally, all democracies spend more than they tax, which is tolerated (actually enjoyed) by the public until there is a crisis. Want proof? Think California, England, Illinois, Greece, New York, Italy, and America. Incessantly, government elites connive to spend, which is allowed until the people taxed rebel. Hence, today Americans are reflexively and angrily responding to years of undisciplined and uncontrollable government spending.
This exposes a great challenge to all democracies: First, only knowledgeable and vigilant citizens stop government abuse. Second, regrettably the great majority of citizens are rationally ignorant of government.
Democracy and Power 102: Voters are rationally ignorant.
The vast majority of the public is ignorant of bills, legislation, regulations and taxes that will ultimately affect their lives.
The general public is working hard making a living, raising a family and improving their community. The individual voter does not have the time to know all the transactions of government. It is impossible to stay abreast of all the government actions.
Presently, America benefits from vast public revulsion with government spending and the associated fraud and corruption. A significant majority of Americans want smaller government, lower taxes and few services.
Hopefully, this will result in better governance. Crucially, the momentary anger and hope are not enough. America and all democracies dedicated to freedom must develop structural systems limiting the power of government.
This problem is not new:
The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.
- James Madison, Speech in the Virginia State Convention of 1829-1830
Join FreedomWorks to halt the ongoing abuses by Democrats and Republicans, and join the search for additional structures to restrain the inherent problem of abuse of power by government officials.
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