Posted by
voice_of_reason on Thursday, July 05, 2007 10:28:17 AM
On this blog, I have spent quite some time trying to analyze the causes of America's slow, but inexorable slouch towards the Left.
Please note that I give due credit for America's success to sound Judeo-Christian principles. However, I have suggested that it is the infiltration of religion-inspired altruism (and the concept of unearned guilt) into our politics that is responsible for the predisposition of a majority of Americans to accept (a) redistributive economic policies and (b) policies that do not put America's self-interest before others.
It is often stated that one of America's sources of strength is Democracy. Yes, I'm aware of the fact that we are a Republic, and that the
distinction is significant. However, we are a Republic that tends to act as though it is a Democracy - to our detriment.
Is there something in Democracy itself that makes a Leftward tilt inevitable?
Consider the following:
* American principles of justice and fairness mandate the need for equality of opportunity, but not of outcomes,
* the concept of
equity is predominant in Leftist rhetoric, leading to their entrenchment in positions that seek an equality of outcomes.
* in a democracy, leaders have to seek election (and re-election) by winning a majority of votes from the electorate.
* Since every vote counts equally in a democracy, human predilections such as class envy can play a role in voting patterns. Notice how those weaknesses align very nicely with the Leftist concept of equity.
* It may be easy to brand those moral lapses as un-American, but politicians in a democracy learn how exploit them by proposing redistributive economic policies.
The result: Leftist policies gain ascendancy in America, and with each passing generation we undermine our strength by adopting policies such as Welfare, Medicare, Public Education, Universal Health Care etc.
Unlike that of a Republic, the inherent nature of a democracy forces our leaders to pander to human weaknesses, leading to a Leftward tilt. So, if we expect a democracy to lean to the Right, we are banking on a level of intelligence in our electorate that can overcome this inherently leftward bias.
I welcome comments and insights from readers on this topic.