Edmund Burke, Democracy and Faux Populism
The comments to the "Aristocratic Blogging" post invite a formal reply.
Edmund Burke was no doubt an elitist -- a conservative one -- but nonetheless elitist. He favored the landed gentry and nobles. He defended their rights and privileges -- while, yes, also pointing out their responsibilities.
Somewhere in Burke's Revolution in France, he comments how wonderful democratic dialogue is in that the dialogue progresses based on each person's observations -- even if that observation is coming from the least learned person in the room. My view is this is a minimalist view of democracy -- entirely consistent with the King's view of his Court advisors. I call this faux populism.
Real populism entails risk -- that is believing the mob could do a better job than the current crew in Washington and St. Paul.
Edmund Burke was no doubt an elitist -- a conservative one -- but nonetheless elitist. He favored the landed gentry and nobles. He defended their rights and privileges -- while, yes, also pointing out their responsibilities.
Somewhere in Burke's Revolution in France, he comments how wonderful democratic dialogue is in that the dialogue progresses based on each person's observations -- even if that observation is coming from the least learned person in the room. My view is this is a minimalist view of democracy -- entirely consistent with the King's view of his Court advisors. I call this faux populism.
Real populism entails risk -- that is believing the mob could do a better job than the current crew in Washington and St. Paul.
posted by ssc | 1/21/2006 09:44:00 AM
Suppose we could identify a person, hypothetically, that was the primary founder of, let's say, a debate society that, by definition and practice, was elitist. Such a society had rigorous membership standards, and although attendance was open to all, in practice only those with similar interests attended. Would such a founder be an elitist?
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If land ownership and the right to pass one's property on to one's heirs (as landed gentry) is elitist, then call me a proud elitist.
Private property ownership, if solid and free from taxation and regulation, may be more important than even democracy.
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