Democratic Despotism

So glad we almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world
--Tears for Fears

Many people believe that the framers designed a democratic form of government for the United States. These people are mistaken. Democracy is a form of governmennt where government acts based on the will of the majority.

The framers were deeply aware of political history, and they knew that governments grounded in majority rule were destined to self-destruct. One reason is that, like any individual, people who comprise majorities seek to satisfy their interests using the least amount of effort possible. And, if given the opportunity to grow wealthier by political means rather than through productive effort, majorities will vote themselves more weath thru use of government force. Special interest groups perpetually wrestle to gain majority control of government's wealth redistribution mechanism.

That wealth comes out of the hides of the minority vote, who are forced to comply at the point of a gun.

When push comes to shove, therefore, majorities trample the rights of minorities in democracies.

The framers knew that the only form of government where people could be treated equally under the law and maintain freedom was a constitutional republic. Citizens elect from among themselves those people judge as most apt to represent their interests. But because the constitution is written in manner that places strict limitations on what central government can do, majorities or even supermajorities cannot employ government as an instrument to better their condition on the backs of minorities.

Majorities could not rule minorities if the supreme law of the land, the Constitution, was respected.

The framers assumed, of course, that the Constitution would be respected. This has proven to be a bad assumption.

Absent respect for the Constitution, government has become a wealth redistribution agent for any group that can marshal political favor from Washington. Those who ride that special interest wave are, of course, vocal proponents about the virtues of democracy.

However, democracy's primary feature, despotic dominance of the many over the few, can hardly be considered a virtue.