Brexit and the Perils of Pure Democracy

Across the pond in the USA, we sometimes lament the layers of indirection at work in our representative democracy. 

We elect representatives to Congress who don't always share our values or support policies that we favor. Congress doesn't always work in the best interest of their constituents choosing instead to fulfill party objectives and the wishes of well-funded lobbyists.

Here, we don't even elect our President directly. Our votes send Electors (actual people) from each party to the Electoral College. Those Electors choose the President. 

This indirect system of representation routinely frustrates the rank and file voter. But it also acts as a safety net against reckless policy changes. Significant policy change happens very slowly in the US. But slow is better than rash. Unfortunalely, rash decisions are more likely when the voting public participates directly in the process.

Someone once wrote that if majorities made every decision, then every meal would be pizza and every outfit would include blue jeans. Sometimes it's better to leave the decision making to those with a more specialized or seasoned persoective. Let Mom decide what to have for dinner.

Which brings us to Brexit, the UK's decision to leave the European Union. I'll stop short of saying that the result is going to be a disaster for the economies involved. I don't have a crystal ball. But in the short term, at least, the negatives are likely to outweigh the positives. 

Is this the kind of decision that the rank and file voter is prepared to make? The average citizen doesn't understand the complexities of trade agreements or international banking. Their votes are based on limited knowledge and a good measure of emotion, emotion that can easily be excited and directed by clever marketing campaigns.

I fear that Britain has made a historical blunder. Or more to the point, Britain's individual voters have made a rash and ultimately regrettable decision, a decision that should have been entrusted to cooler and more qualified heads.

Copyright © 2016 Daniel R. South 

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