Should people really be allowed to make political decisions?

Question

I understand that most people support democracy, but there are people who are more educated and experienced. shouldnt they make the decisions for a country?

the flaw lies the election system where average voters, with average intelligence, select a leader. this leader in theory reflects the ideology of the average citizen. However, there lies the problem. Average. It is mediocracy rather than success that suit the average citizen.

So here's the question...how much political decision making power should the average individual have?

I personally think a responsible (note, RESPONSIBLE) dictator/executive that is accountable to an elected council and supreme court would probably eliminate many of the problems of democracy (lots of red tape, the process to pass a bill, minority governments, etc)

Answer 1

Funny, but some of the wisest people ever decided that the citizens of the United States should be allowed to determine their own fate.

But, what did they know.  They were just a bunch of slave holding white guys.

Answer 2

Maybe one needs to take a test to determine if they are aware of the consequences of their vote.

I also think that only people who owns property should vote on raising property taxes.

Answer 3

" WE the people" should answer your question.

All three of our current Presidential candidates are intelligent and well schooled people. There is nothing 'average' about any of them. And the citizens of America do NOT require a higher education to understand democracy.

I will take the 'problems' of democracy any day over tyranny or dictatorship. It doesn't take genius to know what is good for oneself.

You are calling for elitism.

Answer 4

I think individuals voting is the least of the redtape issues of the government.  The pork spending and government corruption hasn't occurred because of bad voting, but because of voter apathy and politicians who try and police and regulate issues they are not familiar with.  

Bryan Caplan has a theory on voting called "The Myth of the Rational Voter".  Basically, it says 90% of people don't educated themselves on an issue, but it's OK because that 90% will vote equally Yes or No.  Then the 10% of the population that does know what the issue is about will vote the best way.

Answer 5

The problem with your government would be that any time there is a small group of people that have all of the power there tends to be more corruption.  What would stop your small government from voting themselves into lifetime positions?  This often happens in dictatorships followed by the leaders making themselves rich and everyone else gets poor.  At least in our system, we have the power to vote people out.

Answer 6

If I may ask you, what controls would be in place if the dictator/leader stopped acting in a "responsible" manner?  Who decides what kind of person serves on this council or supreme court?

Answer 7

Nice theory - but since there is no such thing as a responsible dictator the whole thing would quickly degenerate into people being classified by their IQs and the "wiser " people lording it over the lesser peasants.