Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Post-Election Reflection

Today I read a quote posted on fb by a friend:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years."

-Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835.


I was reminded of In Defense of Elitisma book I read in a political science class in college. 

And then I am reminded of the ever-annoying, but ever-quotable movie Idiocracy

"Welcome to Costco. I love you."

My take:
I vote for people with the principles and values that I think are correct. Principles and values are the underlying guidelines for making any decision. I want candidates who look at the big picture.

I am continually amazed at how narrowly and selfishly focused many people are when voting for candidates. I am frustrated by the folks who look at how their job will be affected, but ignore the ramifications of what that will mean for our country and its future. 

I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore.