The Will of the People

I'm reading "Why Politics Fails" by Prof Ben Ansell. He did the 2023 Reith Lectures, but I didn't hear them. So I'm reading the very interesting & well written book. I have long thought that we simply don't have a true democracy any more & like many I am completely disillusioned with our present government & many politicians. I have just finished the first section of the book on Democracy.

Democracy should mean that the people have the right to choose their leaders & replace them through  universal franchise. That supposedly gives rise to the notion of the "will of the people". Generally we are used to getting wealthier & having endless economic growth. But there is a conflict between individual self interest & collective goals. We are not all altruistic. We have to compromise, so politics is all about "trade offs". To legislate you need to win elections. To win elections you have to get people to vote for you. That is where the idea of the "will of the people" comes in.

Political parties make promises & have manifestos to persuade the electorate.The Institute of Government says " a large number of promises from recent manifestos have not been delivered"

Ansell argues that this is the "democracy trap" - there is no such thing as the "will of the people". Life isn't a series of binary answers. Life is more complex than that. People manipulate & even lie to get what they want. Parties & voters become polarised. Populism is one result. Four European countries have populist governments now.

An important concept is what we mean by Equality. My interpretation is that there should be equality of opportunity. So everyone, regardless of financial status, should have the opportunity to receive quality education & healthcare for example. In terms of the "will of the people" everyones' vote should count equally. Our voting system of "first past the post" does not allow that to happen. Denmark & Sweden for example have more inclusive electoral systems.

Another important concept is Freedom. Freedom of speech, association & conscience. All of these are being eroded during my lifetime e.g. no platforming, jailing of journalists in countries like Russia & Turkey. Is that done at the "will of the people"? No, it's at the behest of dictators who are able to coerce or indoctrinate populations in order to maintain their power & wealth.

We have seen a rise in income & wealth gaps internationally, biggest in wealthy countries. The wealthier you are the more power you have to manipulate politics & politicians. America is a prime example. They seem likely to vote Trump in as President again. A man who is worryingly unfit for high public office. The 2020 US election cost a record 14 billion $. How can elections be really democratic when money talks to that extent & gives wealthy donors tremendous political influence?

To my mind the "will of the people", if it ever existed, doesn't matter half as much as the money of the capitalists & oligarchs who can directly influence an election. Democracy is on it's last legs & the people have terminal laryngitis.