ػᶈᶏϾӗ’s Reviews > What's Wrong with Democracy?: From Athenian Practice to American Worship > Status Update

Here's some great logic for you: Personal choice shouldn't be our greatest political good, because for most of human history, a lot of people were subjects or slaves, and THEY couldn't have all been unhappy. Samons is a dick.

Dude is quite the conservative. Some of this is interesting, but I'm not sure I agree with his assumptions.

Well, I'm certainly finishing this under different conditions than when I began it. It is still really, really relevant.

*clears throat loudly*

How did Athens encourage the lower class to participate in government? By paying offices and juries from public funds. Costly, yes - and tantamount to bribery, if you ask me. "We'll pay you for your participation - now look, the government is based on the 'will of the masses,' and therefore legitimate!"

Looking at the actual characteristics of Athenian democracy, and their actual accomplishments during this period, it's clear to me that demo*cracy, or "rule of the people," is problematic. Who are the people? And how do they rule? It's never quite clear, though it does *become* clear that leaders have a definite interest in making it seem like they rule on the behalf of "the people."

Bus reading, at least 'til I get assigned any novels. Already a really though-provoking read - clearly an argument from a statist perspective, but nonetheless demonstrates gaping holes in the American political conscious.