Public Opinion and Forms of Government

Public Opinion Debate

This lecture examines the ongoing debate among political scientists regarding public opinion, especially considering recent events like protests against police brutality and challenges to the democratic process. This debate scrutinizes the very foundation of governance and citizen involvement.

Core Question

  • Can a legitimate government truly arise from the consent of the people?

  • Is a competent government attainable given the diversity and complexity of public opinion?

  • Are people sufficiently informed and capable of contributing to sound public policy and laws?

Historical Context: Ancient Regime vs. Enlightenment

Ancient Regime View

  • The ruling class historically believed that people were inherently incapable of self-government due to perceived sin, evil, and intellectual limitations.

  • Political and economic matters were to be controlled by a select, capable class, often justified by tradition and religious authority.

Enlightenment Challenge

  • The Enlightenment challenged these views, asserting the inherent rights and capabilities of all human beings.

  • Self-government is not only viable but also the most legitimate form of governance, deriving its power from the consent of the governed.

  • America's founding was a bold experiment rooted in Enlightenment principles, testing the viability of self-governance.

Current Challenges to Democracy

  • Shortcomings of democracy have become increasingly apparent, marked by widespread distrust of government and political institutions.

  • Alternative forms of government and authoritarian regimes are emerging globally, posing challenges to the democratic world.

  • Socialist and fascist movements are capitalizing on public discontent, offering alternative visions of governance.

Key Questions and Systems

  • How influential should public opinion be in shaping policy and governance?

  • Two primary systems exist to accommodate public opinion:

    • Representative Democracy

    • Direct Democracy

Representative Democracy

  • People elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

  • Most state and federal governments operate under this system.

  • The idea of a republic does not necessarily equate to democracy; it can also encompass autocratic governance.

  • Elected officials are expected to reflect the wishes of their constituents while also exercising independent judgment based on expertise.

  • Visual Representation:

    • People (voters) elect representatives.

    • The legislature introduces, debates, and votes on laws.

    • Public law and policy are the result of this process.

Rationale for Representative Democracy

  • This system enables informed and experienced experts to legislate thoughtfully and deliberately.

  • Representatives leverage their skills and expertise to make decisions on behalf of millions of constituents.

  • The Madison model innovated this practice, facilitating governance in a large, diverse country.

Direct Democracy

  • Direct democracy empowers the people directly, giving them greater control over policy decisions.

  • It arises from discontent with representative democracy, reflecting a desire for more direct control.

  • Advocates argue that individuals know what's best for them, and government should directly reflect those wishes without intermediaries.

  • Initiatives, referendums, and recall elections are mechanisms of direct democracy:

    • Citizens propose laws, debate issues, and vote directly on policy.

    • The legislative body does not participate directly in the vote outside of its individual members acting as citizens.

Visual Representation

  • People (voters) bypass the legislature to directly create laws and policy.

  • The legislature does not play a direct role in these decisions.

Origin and Principles

  • Direct democracy originated largely from the progressive movement, aiming to curb special interests and corruption.

  • It cuts out the middleman, allowing common people to make decisions on policies that affect them.

  • Recall: Voters can remove an elected official before the end of their term, typically requiring a significant number of signatures from voters.

Examples of Direct Democracy in Action

  • Oregon's decriminalization of all drugs.

  • California propositions on taxation and recreational marijuana.

  • Recall election of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, demonstrating the power of direct democracy.

Rationale

  • Direct democracy aligns government directly with the consent of the people, empowering them to shape policy.

  • It counters the corruptive influence of special interests within the legislature, putting power back in the hands of citizens.

Debate: Capability of the People

  • Are people truly capable of making informed and sound decisions for their community, state, and country?

  • China and Russia, among others, argue against democracy, asserting that people are incapable of self-governance and that it leads to chaos.

Two Schools of Thought

  • Not So Capable:

    • Plato, Hamilton, Churchill, Littmann

  • Capable

    • Aristotle, Jefferson, Lincoln, Thoreau

"Not So Capable" Argument

  • Proponents of this view argue that people, in general, lack the knowledge and expertise to make complex decisions.

  • They suggest that capable individuals must be identified and elevated from the public to make decisions on behalf of society.

Plato

  • Democracy is dangerous because people are often ignorant and envious, leading to poor decisions.

  • When given power, people tend to pursue their own narrow interests at the expense of the common good.

  • Democracy makes people susceptible to demagogues who exploit envy and division among citizens.

  • Ultimately, democracy can lead to anarchy and then tyranny as society unravels.

Alexander Hamilton

  • Hamilton viewed the public as "the great beast," prone to turbulence and irrationality.

  • He believed that the people are often unsteady in their judgment and seldom determine correctly.

  • Hamilton advocated for giving power to the rich and well-born to check the unsteadiness of the masses.

  • He rejected the notion that the will of the people is synonymous with the will of God, questioning popular sovereignty.

  • Hamilton supported the idea of meritocracy, not a dissenting class of privilege, to guide governance.

Juvenile

  • People have abdicated their duties and anxiously hope for just "bread and circuses."

  • Providing bread and circuses rob people of critical thought for a good government.

Winston Churchill

  • Churchill cautioned against living in the temperamental atmosphere of a gallopole, emphasizing the need for strong leadership.

  • He argued that a leader's duty is to be right, even if it means going against popular opinion.

  • Churchill quipped that the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

  • Yet, he famously declared that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others, acknowledging its flaws while recognizing its relative merits.

Roger Stone

  • Politics is show business for ugly people.

  • Stone suggests that the line between entertainment and politics has blurred in contemporary society.

  • Success in politics is now often about spectacle and distraction, rather than substantive governance.