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Single Idea 22682
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
]
Full Idea
Universal suffrage is by no means a guarantee of the wisdom of the popular choice.
Gist of Idea
Universal suffrage is no guarantee of wise choices
Source
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America (abr Renshaw) [1840], 1.11)
Book Ref
Tocqueville,Alexis de: 'Democracy in America (abridged)', ed/tr. Renshaw,Patrick [Wordsworth 1998], p.83
A Reaction
This was precisely Plato's fear about democracy. There seems no way at all of preventing the people from electing representatives on superficial grounds of personality.
The
20 ideas
with the same theme
[the people chose a small group to govern]:
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22533
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If the people are equal in nature, then they should all share in ruling
[Aristotle]
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2817
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It is wrong that a worthy officer of state should seek the office
[Aristotle]
|
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22576
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No office is permanent in a democracy
[Aristotle]
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7254
|
If you try to get elected, you should be permanently barred from seeking office
[More,T]
|
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19998
|
If deputies represent people, they are accountable, but less so if they represent places
[Montesquieu]
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7251
|
The English are actually slaves in between elections
[Rousseau]
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20558
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Your representative owes you his judgement, and betrays you if he gives your opinion instead
[Burke]
|
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22041
|
Representatives by region ignores whether they care about the national interest
[Hegel, by Pinkard]
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20504
|
People can only participate in decisions in small communities, so representatives are needed
[Mill]
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16009
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When we seek our own 'freedom' we are just trying to avoid responsibility
[Kierkegaard]
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22682
|
Universal suffrage is no guarantee of wise choices
[Tocqueville]
|
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7976
|
People like democracy because it means they can avoid power
[Baudrillard]
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22264
|
Modern liberal rights in democracies protect individuals against the majority
[Sandel]
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23260
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A cap on time of service would restrict party control and career ambitions
[Grayling]
|
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7477
|
Modern democracy is actually elective oligarchy
[Watson]
|
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20093
|
In the 18th century democratic lots lost out to elections, that gave us a non-hereditary aristocracy
[Reybrouck]
|
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20091
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Representative elections were developed in order to avoid democracy
[Reybrouck]
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21126
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Representative should be either obedient, or sensible, or typical
[Shorten]
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21128
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There is 'mirror representation' when the institution statistically reflects the population
[Shorten]
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21127
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In a changed situation a Mandated Representative can't keep promises and fight for constituents
[Shorten]
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