Democratic Hysteria

Democracy requires an educated and well-informed citizenry, and to paraphrase former US President Thomas Jefferson, a nation cannot expect to be both ignorant and free, living in a state of civilization. Two intelligent leaders, Barack Obama and Manmohan Singh, are being sidelined by ignorant and passionate debates, observes economist Pranab Bardhan in an essay for Project Syndicate. In a quest for political power, political opponents stir rage against leaders and reject compromise, in the process disparaging government institutions and process. Public rage over reckless financial deals and corruption has led to calls for extreme measures that won’t address fundamental problems and could even exacerbate many troubles. Bardhan concludes that democracy cannot flourish with shortcuts. The lack of respect for representational government, the desperate search for commanding leaders whose ideology supplants the need for citizens capable of critical thinking, tirelessly educating themselves on the issues, these are alarming signs of an acceptance of authoritarianism. – YaleGlobal