The Errors of Democracy

With the presidential election approaching, as has been the case for a number of recent decades, Americans find themselves in search of a candidate that may fix our government’s brokenness. Even in spite of the many political disagreements between conservatives, moderates, liberals and progressives, nearly all can agree that the current gridlock of our irresponsive government is unacceptable and unsustainable. But the solution to America’s issues does not lie in a candidate alone. Recent political history has proven such. Rather, the ultimate remedy to what ails the country is a return of our institutions to their republican designs. Our present political and cultural turmoil is a result of the century long democratization of our government and political institutions. The democratization of the Senate, of the party primaries and of other institutions has brought to bear the full force of democracy’s vices on America. The errors of democracy have propelled the United States into our current crisis, and only a rebirth of republicanism may correct our national course.

Since the turn of the 20th Century, the United States has trekked down a path of increasing democratization. With the ratification of the 17th Amendment, the US Senate is now elected through popular vote. The states no longer have a competing interest in the national government, and the will of the majority controls both chambers of the congress. Now, the Senate finds itself consistently gridlocked, as rules are rewritten to empower the majority in matters of committees, debate and even judicial and cabinet…