Comments on: A Matter of Suffrage

By: james wilson

james wilson — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:59:03 +0000

As the gentle Tocqueville wrote, universal suffrage is the most detestable element possible in a democracy, and is instead a powerful revolutionary instrument. At one stroke we raise up the stock of stupidity and lower that of deliberation.

By: Randoms « Foseti

Randoms « Foseti — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:33:05 +0000

[…] On Noah Webster and the people. […]

By: Firmus et Rusticus

Firmus et Rusticus — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:43:33 +0000

It is true that people who hold different positions in society have different stakes in it, and therefore it is certainly unfair to give everyone an equal vote in the country’s representative body. The gravest problem, however, is that in modern democracy the elected legislative assembly fails, by its very nature, to be a representative body.

Representation implies that those who are represented have a means of making their voices heard, that is, listened to by those who make a decision. By others. Since Congress calls itself representative, but at the same time makes legislative decisions, it unites two functions that by definition should belong to two different organs. (See http://firmusenglish.blogspot.com/2011/04/modernitys-myths-democracy-and-false_12.html )

No matter who is elected, or who elects him, or by what method, a representative body simply does not exist in a democracy.

By: James

James — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:02:08 +0000

Dear Sirs,
As cynical politicians in Ancient Rome used to say, give the plebeians, the mob, “bread and circuses”, and they will support us. Perhaps, at least, those receiving governmental charity should be denied the franchise, the privilege of voting. Even bolder would be raising the voting age to 21 (or older?). College “students” today, unfortunately, are, with very few exceptions, still kids. How many intellectuals are in the bleachers of a college football game? Even bolder still, would be limiting the vote, to one vote per household.
Thank you.
A New Jersey Copperhead

By: Sam Starrett

Sam Starrett — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:57:20 +0000

Thank you for this, sir. I'll be posting a link on The Rambling Royalist right away. The de-elitification of the electorate is a big problem for any democratic republic.