There is a certain consistency between the “ditch the midterms” argument and the Left’s general souring on the notion of representative government. The model they prefer is benevolent despotism, with a voting “safety valve” that legitimizes everything the benevolent despot does, by holding out the possibility that if the public strongly disagrees with his agenda or disapproves of his performance, they can vote him out of office. This threadbare understanding of small-r republican ideals boils down to the childlike belief that people cannot be oppressed as long as they still have the ability to vote against their oppressors. This is one of the most dangerously foolish beliefs of the modern era.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 01:11:25 +0000
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