#126: Democracy, Populism, and the Decline of the West

June 28, 2015

A good friend just complained to me about what she perceived as bad rhetoric on the Republican side in current discussion of the homosexual marriage SCOTUS decision. She wanted the candidates to focus on the legitimate argument of the SCOTUS abuse of power, rather than talking about the bible. I understand her frustration and want to give it the attention it deserves. Here’s my response to her.

This is not about rationally defensible positions, this is about political strategy. Ultimately, we have to face the truth that democracies, whether direct or representative, inevitably morph into mobocracies, which are disguised tyrannies. The reason is not obscure, it lies in the method by which power is acquired in democracies, namely the vote. As long as this is the case, democracies will drift into tyranny and, equally inevitably, bankruptcy. This is because the voting mechanism makes populism the inescapable winner. And this is because reason is by far not the effective path to votes.

Populism is not Socialism or Communism, populism is a strategy, not an ideology. There are several elements in a successful populist strategy. First, and most important, give presents to the masses (the Romans gave “bread and circuses”). Second, capitalize on mass envy of the more successful. And third, give the masses an absolution narrative.

The third warrants emphasis. There is nothing more pervasive psychologically among the unwashed than a sense of personal inadequacy and failure. What they want more than anything else is an “explanation” for their not being rich which absolves them of responsibility for that fact. There is thus nothing more politically effective than the “it’s not your fault” narrative, especially when it’s coupled with the “it’s HIS fault” story, where HE is the successful, white, middle-aged male. The Left uses all of the above tactics in it’s march towards power.

The populist strategy is made stronger by the fact that it is not only employed by politicians; it is also employed by the mass media, and, most damaging, it is employed in the marketing of products. Advertisers shameless fawn over, flatter, and misrepresent the true nature of their consumer targets. Ads are replete with “minority” figures, e.g. blacks, Hispanics, females, and now homosexuals being shown as morally superior, cleverer, and more powerful than middle aged white males who are ugly villains. In addition, I should add that Big Government, whether in the hands of Democrats or Republicans, is firmly in alliance with the giant multi-national corporations, which donate millions upon millions of dollars to election campaigns. This is not a Left versus “business” scenario, this is a Left versus individual taxpayer scenario.

Thus, if the Republicans followed your advice, they would only be preaching to an ever diminishing choir. They do have a chance of getting a large turnout from the Evangelicals and cannot afford to lose them. Hence the bible rhetoric. Notwithstanding, there are candidates who have been at the very least mixing in reason with religion. Jeb does it from time to time, but Walker does it most of the time; Jindal can’t win, but he’s a brilliant guy who knows what’s going on. You might not like Huckabee’s religious rhetoric, but he is really very smart. Kasich would be excellent. There is really a marvelous array of brains and talent on the Republican side.

That said, it doesn’t matter. The populist strategy is near impossible to beat. This is even more so in the U.S. case because the Democrats have intentionally increased the size of the ignorant masses since the 1960s. The welfare policies instituted under Johnson’s “war on poverty” have had the effect of incentivizing breeding in the welfare population. Ted Kennedy’s legislation changed immigration policy so as to favor illiterates from third world countries over Europeans. And now, the Democrats are working to turn 25 million illegals into voters.

America was made great by the mass acceptance of a collection of “myths” that made up the average man’s self-image and image of the country. These “myths” included being Christian, being patriotic, and trusting various authorities such as the police and the government. All of these have been under systematic attack by Left-infused universities and Left-infused media. The prognosis for America is bleak in the extreme.

The only chance that America has at this point is that enough Democrats are nauseated by the Hildebeast to simply not vote, but that’s a slim chance at best. And even should the Beast lose, there are gigantic hurdles to be overcome if the U.S. is to once again lead the world towards peace and civilization.