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Single Idea 7976
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
]
Full Idea
If the people puts itself into the hands of the political class, it does so more to be rid of power than out of any desire for representation.
Gist of Idea
People like democracy because it means they can avoid power
Source
Jean Baudrillard (The Intelligence of Evil [2004], p. 54)
Book Ref
Baudrillard,Jean: 'The Intelligence of Evil or The Lucidity Pact' [Berg 2005], p.54
A Reaction
Very nice. If we are all in the grips of some biological 'will to power', that needn't be power over huge numbers of other people, merely power over our immediate lives. It can be expressed by building a wall.
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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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