The Failings of Democracies and Freedoms
Plus some other serious worries of the world.
I know quite a few people these days who are shaking their heads and seeing where too much democracy and too much freedom have led us.
Wait! What?
Those were the words used, and I’ve spent the last few days thinking about them. I thought, particularly, of what H.L. Mencken said:
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
I’m not sure whether Mencken meant that he thought the mass of people were morons, or whether he was saying that one needed someone who was above average. It has, however, in view of events over the past decade, made me rethink democracy.
Of course, having hereditary leadership doesn’t do much for any country either — as in aristocracies and royals. There’s no guarantee that because one is born to nobility that one will have either leadership traits…
