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Michael's avatar

The above point was made well by The right honorable Charles James Fox addressing the House of Commons almost two centuries ago in England. At issue was what obligation did elected representatives have to reflect the sentiments of their voters when the former viewed the latter in error. Let us sit on the bench as the great Whig orator addressed the chamber:

"What, Sir, is the conclusion to be drawn? Why, this. Let us satisfy ourselves. Let us act according to the dictates of honour and conscience, and be at peace with our own minds. It is thus that we shall sooner or later regain the confidence of our constituents, if we have lost it; and not by humouring, as foolish nurses humour great lubberly boys, the wayward whims of a misled multitude."

Why, that puts paid to those mooncalf advocates of representative democracy, doesn't it?! The educated elite should do as their own lights prompt them and surely the mob will eventually follow. If they don't, so much the worse for them!

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Michael's avatar

But the people are not omniscient, nor can they see far into the future. In the heat of some moment, in a gust of folly they may ordain some malign change which they cannot later undo and therein lies the danger you speak of.

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