12-06-2022, 11:04 PM
Obviously a democracy succeeds to the extent that people vote for the best even if those Best are unlike themselves in education, vocational achievements, and (ideally) a stronger moral compass. There are far more shoplifters than there are attorneys, but as a general rule the attorneys are typically the strongest leaders in a democratic society. After a few decades we typically find some patterns , like recognizing that those who either have long careers in elective office (like Joe Biden) or appear as shining stars quickly without problems (like Barack Obama) are usually the best choices. I pick Obama and Biden for examples of this because they are so extreme as types. Business success means little in doing the public business.
Democratic politicians succeed with persuasion and not command. Our system is so designed that our President has few powers with which to command much; the President must persuade. Businesses, whether a mom-and-pop diner or General Motors, are empires. The chief operating officer has a clear line of command, and anyone who fails at his job or gets in the way will be fired. The President cannot fire a Senator or a federal judge, or tamper in state or local politics. Government employees have civil-service rules that ideally separate them from responsibility for electoral results.
The struggle to the Presidency is a competitive contest more subtle than a succession of jousts. It is usually more effective.
Democratic politicians succeed with persuasion and not command. Our system is so designed that our President has few powers with which to command much; the President must persuade. Businesses, whether a mom-and-pop diner or General Motors, are empires. The chief operating officer has a clear line of command, and anyone who fails at his job or gets in the way will be fired. The President cannot fire a Senator or a federal judge, or tamper in state or local politics. Government employees have civil-service rules that ideally separate them from responsibility for electoral results.
The struggle to the Presidency is a competitive contest more subtle than a succession of jousts. It is usually more effective.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.