Being against democracy does not make you an elitist. Far from it. It might mean that, like Aristotle, you are against demagoguery, or like Randall Holcombe, you are for liberty – even when the majority opposes it. Today, most Americans think of “democracy” as the principle underlying government. In 1776, most Americans would have said “liberty.” Democracy was an after-thought, meant to keep elite powers at bay.
Randall G. Holcombe on Liberty in Peril
Randall G. Holcombe on Liberty in Peril
Randall G. Holcombe on Liberty in Peril
Being against democracy does not make you an elitist. Far from it. It might mean that, like Aristotle, you are against demagoguery, or like Randall Holcombe, you are for liberty – even when the majority opposes it. Today, most Americans think of “democracy” as the principle underlying government. In 1776, most Americans would have said “liberty.” Democracy was an after-thought, meant to keep elite powers at bay.