Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Decline of Democracy
I have always been of the opinion that democracy is like “two wolves and a sheep deciding on what to have for dinner,” for a democratic system has the potential to rapidly chip away at the freedoms and liberties of the individual as the wants and needs of the many gain greater power. Churchill perfectly captured my sentiments when he stated, “it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” While I have never been a big proponent of democracy, I will concede that it is the best choice that we have available for the time being.
I realized a few months ago that under the current political atmosphere we have more things to worry about than the “rule of the majority,” for the tyranny of the minority is rapidly becoming the status quo. We often hear of the 45 million Americans that currently do not have health insurance, yet the politicians never point out that this number makes up a very small portion of American households since 85% of us carry some form of health insurance. The fact that such a small minority can carry enough weight and influence to grant the federal government with an excuse to gain greater control over the free market healthcare system is a scary prospect.
The number of mortgage holders that are currently behind on their mortgage is only 7% of all borrowers, which means that 93% of all mortgage holders are making their payments on time. When you consider that one-third of all homeowners don’t even carry a mortgage and one-third of the population rents an apartment or house, you realize that this number truly is a tiny portion of the population. I am enraged that the vast majority of responsible Americans are now beholden to a tiny minority, and are being forced to pay for their poor choices and fiscal irresponsibility.
Even with all of its shortcomings, I’ll take democracy any day over the rapidly rising oligarchy of freeloaders and mooches that seem to be ruling the day.
I realized a few months ago that under the current political atmosphere we have more things to worry about than the “rule of the majority,” for the tyranny of the minority is rapidly becoming the status quo. We often hear of the 45 million Americans that currently do not have health insurance, yet the politicians never point out that this number makes up a very small portion of American households since 85% of us carry some form of health insurance. The fact that such a small minority can carry enough weight and influence to grant the federal government with an excuse to gain greater control over the free market healthcare system is a scary prospect.
The number of mortgage holders that are currently behind on their mortgage is only 7% of all borrowers, which means that 93% of all mortgage holders are making their payments on time. When you consider that one-third of all homeowners don’t even carry a mortgage and one-third of the population rents an apartment or house, you realize that this number truly is a tiny portion of the population. I am enraged that the vast majority of responsible Americans are now beholden to a tiny minority, and are being forced to pay for their poor choices and fiscal irresponsibility.
Even with all of its shortcomings, I’ll take democracy any day over the rapidly rising oligarchy of freeloaders and mooches that seem to be ruling the day.
