The Tyranny of the Majority
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Tocqueville would have been proud. Last November, the American electorate unleashed the most sweeping changes in both governmental configuration and policy since the 1940's. Democratic politicians found themselves thrown clear from the speeding vehicle of public will, while the well-worn "business-as-usual" road map was hurled out the window in favor of a hard right turn into the uncharted territory of orphanages and isolationism in the 21st century. The People had spoken, and now green and untested legions of actors, cosmetic surgeons, dentists, businessmen, as well as diminished but more traditional cadre of lawyers and career politicians will soon be arriving to serve in Congress and in the Senate. In January, Washington D.C. promises to look something like the infamous cantina bar scene from Stars Wars. Such dramatic changes undoubtedly call to mind Tocqueville's adage that "there is an amazing strength in the expression of the will of a people; and when it declares itself, even the imagination of those who wish to contest it is overawed..." (197). While Tocqueville drew a clear line between liberty and democracy and worried about "the tyranny of the majority" (250), he considered democracy to be a superior if imperfect system. When elections are rare, as in despotic systems (the most prevalent system of the time), they expose the state to violent crises. When they are frequent, as in democratic systems, they keep the government in a state of feverish agitation.
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so turn from their private interests and occasionally take a look at something other than themselves. When individual affairs become common affairs, each individual notices that he is not as independent of fellow citizens as he once thought (Tocqueville 510).
In order to secure their assistance, often an individual must offer aid to others. Consequently, when the public governs, all individuals feel the value of public goodwill - all try to win this goodwill by gaining the esteem and affections of those with whom they must live. Most public officials are elected under a free government, so individuals whose great gifts and aspirations are too closely circumscribed in private life come to believe they cannot do without the other individuals around them (Tocqueville 510).
By de-emphasizing the pomp and circumstance of government, democracy makes the system accessible to ordinary citizens (hence, also cosmetic surgeons and actors). Here is a system nearly bereft of glitter. What little pomp does exist is transmitted to the position and not the individual. An individual never obeys another individual but rather a system of legal justice (Tocqueville 95).
As a result, leaders do not spring from the heads of gods, nor do they r
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Approximate Word count = 1453
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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