Nineteenth-century liberalism had assumed that man was a rational being who operated naturally according to his own best interests, so that in the end, what was reasonable would prevail. On this principle liberals defended extension of the suffrage toward the goal of one man, one vote. But a rise in literacy and in the right to vote, as the event proved, did nothing to increase common sense in politics. The mob that is moved by waving the bloody shirt, that decides elections in response to slogans– Free Silver, Hang the Kaiser, Two Cars in Every Garage–is not exhibiting any greater political sense than Marie Antoinette, who said, “Let them eat cake, ” or Caligula, who made his horse a consul. The common man proved no wiser than the decadent aristocrat. He has not shown in public affairs the innate wisdom which democracy presumed he possessed. Barbara W. Tuchman
About This Quote

In his book, The Second Crusade: America and the World after 9/11, Michael Ledeen argues that the United States must not be a democracy. He believes that voting does not produce leaders that are wise or benevolent. Democracy is a machine for voting in fools. In a democracy people vote not for the wisest but for those most likely to yield to pressure from special interests. In a democracy voters do not vote their self-interest but for those most likely to make promises they cannot keep.

Source: Practicing History: Selected Essays

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