The Genius of Democracy

Following the Brexit vote and more recently the Trump shock election win, I have been asked on several occasions whether I still believed in democracy—a question posed with a tinge of sarcasm to be sure, considering my writings on democracy and my preaching on a Bill of Rights. My answer has been and continues to be affirmative: I still believe in democracy; and actually now more than ever. In fact, I would argue that these two elections prove one thing above everything else; and that is the genius of democracy. But let me first qualify myself, lest the reader mistaken my argument as a political stand. It isn't.

First and foremost, I did not vote for Brexit because I am not a British citizen. Nevertheless, as a global citizen, I was against the measure and much preferred the UK to stay in the EU. So my hypothetical vote would have gone against what the majority of Brits eventually chose. Come US election time, I was indeed eligible to vote and did; but it wasn’t for Mr. Trump either. Three primary issues earned my vote and they were: Free education for those in need, having a female President for the first time, and assuring a clean environment. Mr. Trump’s abrasive rhetoric and controversial stances on minorities made my choice all the easier to take. Of course, I came out yet again on the losing side of the vote.

To a casual observer, perhaps the conclusion a voter such as myself should draw is that democracy doesn’t always work. ‘Surely, these two choices could not have been optimal for their respective societies, could they?’ they ask.

Actually, it’s the wrong question. Getting the election “right” or “wrong” was never really the point of democracy, nor its purpose in the first place—putting aside the sticky issue of who without a crystal ball is to determine ex-ante what is right and what is wrong (And if someone did have such incredible powers, what would be the point of having elections to begin with?). In reality, no one knows for sure how things play out; and one has to wait and see to judge any new government’s performance purely on its own merits.

But what is the purpose of democracy, if not to provide for an optimal result? A subtler and more significant reason is to give everyone a chance to run and for the winning majority of the electorate to take full responsibility for its choice. In other words, regardless of who wins, the victors and their supporters, have to go out and perform. If they do well, it would have been good for everyone. If they don’t, they would have been given their fair chance and have only themselves to blame; needing eventually to step aside for the democratic cycle to churn ad infinitum. Meanwhile, the nation is spared any negative consequences that come from disenfranchisement. Therefore, regardless of who the short-term winners and losers may be, ultimately it is a win-win for the nation.

In this lies the genius of democracy. As long as the perpetual wheel of democracy keeps turning and the rules of the game (as enshrined by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights) are fair and protect everyone, especially the opposing minorities; then in the long term, and regardless of any single choice made by the electorate, the system irons things out and endures. As such, for all his inflammatory remarks and the potential doom scenarios being discussed, Mr. Trump should be given the chance to at least assume his duties, to fail (or succeed), and then to leave not unlike the forty four elected Presidents before him. In the meantime, there will be plenty of institutional means to curb his enthusiasm at the federal, state, and local levels; not to mention civilian protests if things really go awry.

Yes, I do continue to believe in democracy; and no, I don't believe these elections will spell its doom. Quite to the contrary, closely contested elections in age old democracies only prove enduring vibrancy and legitimacy, not found in any other political system invented by man. At the end of the day, democracy always moves on … And in this lies it's genius.