So, you’re saying that you think that democracy is flawed? Because that’s what I’m getting from this comic.
I always find it funny that people laud democracy and “the will of the people”, but only when it coincides with what they already believe. When it goes the other way, that’s when they drop all pretense and claim that “the will of the people” shouldn’t matter.
Political scientists have been calling democracy flawed since Aristotle.
Democracy has some pretty fundamental flaws, namely demagogues and lack of respect for minority rights.
Democracy is flawed. It’s got a lot of flaws. There are citizens in countries all across the globe that would have legitimate complaints with democratic systems, as opposed to something more oligarchic/aristocratic. There is a hefty majority of people in Russia and China who PREER their systems to American style democracy. Or even more European parliamentary democracy.
Plus, Donald Trump wouldn’t have won in a “democracy” anyway. I hate all the semantic “we’re a Republic, not a democracy” stuff, but it’s true. Especially if we’re getting into the pros and cons of “little d” democracy.
All that said, this wasn’t supposed to be a comment on democracy. People set up all kinds of institutions, media outlets, universities, ect… That create all kinds of “experts” but people don’t really give a shit about those experts when they disagree with them.
As someone who spent 4 years reading and writing about politics and will soon attend law school, it’s frustrating that when I discuss politics with my brother in law, for example.
He is a contractor who has worked in construction his entire life. His support for Trump is limited to “it feels right because he’s telling people how things should be.” I know for a fact he doesn’t read any news, doesn’t watch or listen to any news, and DEFINITELY DOESN’T have respect for the historical/policy nuance required to actually solve some of these problems. That doesn’t matter though, his opinion is as valid as mine.
And my opinion is as valid as experts who have done the same thing I have for literally decades.
It’s frustrating because I definitely don’t feel like I have the right to tell him how to build a sturdy building or pour the concrete for a sound foundation. But when it comes to politics years of hands on experience and research don’t really matter.
Holly is a poet, essayist, and immigrant who writes about feminism, politics, and Elvis. Her prose has been featured in several Medium publications and she is a co-host of The Art House’s Moving Voices open mic night.
View all posts by Holly (she/her)
Waiting for Winter 