Post by JimB on Jun 9, 2008 16:29:55 GMT -5
democracy also needs the sheep who quietly follow along with the herd.....for all of our sakes.
Very true, and not just of democracy, but of every workable form of government. (Communist and socialist governmental structures - or lack thereof - have essentially been proven unworkable.) One could also make a compelling argument that organized religions need more sheep than shepherds, as well. And let's face it - even if we were prepared in exactly the right fashion, it would be hard to stay fully engaged in every intellectual decision that faces us on a day to day basis. There's just too much to do.
One of the more distasteful realities of politics in a democracy is that it's not a meritocracy - everyone gets a vote, regardless of station. As a result, a significant amount of campaigning is geared towards the lowest common denominator - the sheep. Emotional, rather than rational, appeals to the "sheeple" (my friend's term, used frequently on his political blog), has proven effective over and over again, and so will continue for the foreseeable future.
Add to this the fact that it's plain impossible to separate rationality from emotionality. Ask anyone who's ever gotten divorced. I'm feeling energized this election year because, for the first time ever, I've found a candidate who inspires me both emotionally and rationally. So while I don't agree with all his policies and proposals, and I still mistrust pure emotional appeal, I feel the combination of the two is very strong. And I feel I've made an informed decision based on my own preferences, not those of the masses.