Imp’s Reviews > Public Opinion > Status Update
Imp
is on page 203 of 288
Problem of figuring out "distinct essential groups of functions"
Uninstructed/uninterested voter.
Two kinds of uninstructed voter: enlightened and unenlightened.Unenlightened uninstructed voters can be gotten to the polls
A scheme would have to be imposed, submitting the scheme to democracy runs into the same issues.
Therefore Guild Socialism isn't a better way of turning self-centered opinion into social judgment.
— Jan 22, 2026 03:16AM
Uninstructed/uninterested voter.
Two kinds of uninstructed voter: enlightened and unenlightened.Unenlightened uninstructed voters can be gotten to the polls
A scheme would have to be imposed, submitting the scheme to democracy runs into the same issues.
Therefore Guild Socialism isn't a better way of turning self-centered opinion into social judgment.
Like flag
Imp’s Previous Updates
Imp
is on page 213 of 288
A NEW IMAGE
In absence of specialized institutions, Common Interest eludes Public Opinion and is managed by a specialized, irresponsible class.
Democratic theory: Trying to control government at the source -> downstream decisions invisible
THE BUYING PUBLIC
Economics of news -> democratic theory demands truth is not earned but given gratis -> newspapers beholden to buying public and advertisers
— Jan 23, 2026 02:57AM
In absence of specialized institutions, Common Interest eludes Public Opinion and is managed by a specialized, irresponsible class.
Democratic theory: Trying to control government at the source -> downstream decisions invisible
THE BUYING PUBLIC
Economics of news -> democratic theory demands truth is not earned but given gratis -> newspapers beholden to buying public and advertisers
Imp
is on page 199 of 288
Critique of G. D. H. Cole's Guild Socialism
Shop democracy subject to external limiting conditions
Management of external relations -> reps carrying out "workers' will" would result in logroll or chaos.
Worker's "will" regarding the industry, nation is limited by access, stereotype and self-interest.
Reps for "some particular function" -> must still deal with larger environment, must conceive of common interest
— Jan 22, 2026 03:07AM
Shop democracy subject to external limiting conditions
Management of external relations -> reps carrying out "workers' will" would result in logroll or chaos.
Worker's "will" regarding the industry, nation is limited by access, stereotype and self-interest.
Reps for "some particular function" -> must still deal with larger environment, must conceive of common interest
Imp
is on page 191 of 288
Congress a group of blind man in a vast world, mosaic of local impressions not enough for national policy.
The President has access to data through agencies.
Congressmen can't understand a fraction of the bills they're voting for.
— Jan 20, 2026 03:20AM
The President has access to data through agencies.
Congressmen can't understand a fraction of the bills they're voting for.
Imp
is on page 188 of 288
Rotation in office regarded as a great reform
As a result of democracy implemented in a non-ideal environment, Patronage replaced, rather than dissolved, the federalists with a new governing class. Patronage created stability for the federal government due to weakening local identity and bringing together members of the class.
In practice, offices oscillate between henchmen. Permanent professional politicians.
— Jan 20, 2026 03:14AM
As a result of democracy implemented in a non-ideal environment, Patronage replaced, rather than dissolved, the federalists with a new governing class. Patronage created stability for the federal government due to weakening local identity and bringing together members of the class.
In practice, offices oscillate between henchmen. Permanent professional politicians.
Imp
is on page 186 of 288
Constitutional convention worked behind closed doors.
The constitution went back to the British Monarchy for a model. Gentry not strong enough to survive the struggle after Washington.
Jefferson's election "great revolution of 1800"
Attached the symbol of democracy to the constitution and created a great conservative fiction.
Patronage: public office regarded as a type of property, expected to remain in-class
— Jan 20, 2026 03:09AM
The constitution went back to the British Monarchy for a model. Gentry not strong enough to survive the struggle after Washington.
Jefferson's election "great revolution of 1800"
Attached the symbol of democracy to the constitution and created a great conservative fiction.
Patronage: public office regarded as a type of property, expected to remain in-class
Imp
is on page 184 of 288
THE ROLE OF FORCE, PATRONAGE AND PRIVILEGE
Maz 1787 - revision of Articles of Confederation in full reaction against premise of 18th century democracy.
The problem was "to restore government as against democracy".
Madison
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition"
Hamilton favored the gentry for a government, used class privileges to make the Union
— Jan 20, 2026 02:59AM
Maz 1787 - revision of Articles of Confederation in full reaction against premise of 18th century democracy.
The problem was "to restore government as against democracy".
Madison
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition"
Hamilton favored the gentry for a government, used class privileges to make the Union
Imp
is on page 180 of 288
Enough for the township -> enough for any purpose
Men formed pictures of outside from pictures in their heads, cultivated by stereotypes nurtured by the community.
No way of gathering info -> democratic theory falls back to wisdom and experience of the voter.
"Only real disagreement could be the judgment of the same facts"
Could assume homogeneous code of morals
Takes supply of information for granted
— Jan 19, 2026 03:32AM
Men formed pictures of outside from pictures in their heads, cultivated by stereotypes nurtured by the community.
No way of gathering info -> democratic theory falls back to wisdom and experience of the voter.
"Only real disagreement could be the judgment of the same facts"
Could assume homogeneous code of morals
Takes supply of information for granted
Imp
is on page 178 of 288
Jefferson's democratic ideal: ideal environment + selected class
Became political gospel for all politics, not just special environments.
In Jefferson's age, all public opinion was spontaneous and subjective, this had to be considered.
Security seen as necessary for Democracy
Dangerous crises incompatible with
--> efforts to enclose part of the earth's surface: "democratic wars"
Assumed men have equal competence
— Jan 19, 2026 03:28AM
Became political gospel for all politics, not just special environments.
In Jefferson's age, all public opinion was spontaneous and subjective, this had to be considered.
Security seen as necessary for Democracy
Dangerous crises incompatible with
--> efforts to enclose part of the earth's surface: "democratic wars"
Assumed men have equal competence
Imp
is on page 175 of 288
Democratic philosophers were aware of the limitations of knowledge, found home in remote, unspoiled country villages.
de Tocqueville: doctrine of Popular Sovereignty nurtured in the townships took possession of the State in the American Revolution
Jefferson: These ideal communities must be fenced off from the rest of the world.
— Jan 19, 2026 03:24AM
de Tocqueville: doctrine of Popular Sovereignty nurtured in the townships took possession of the State in the American Revolution
Jefferson: These ideal communities must be fenced off from the rest of the world.
Imp
is on page 174 of 288
THE SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY
Ideally just pattern of rights and duties -> everyone obeys then opinions don't matter
All systems assume an established harmony.
Other philosophers took conflict for granted: Machiavelli
Worse name and more disciples than anyone else.
"Men judge more by the eye than by the hand"
People whose vision can't be corrected
— Jan 19, 2026 03:20AM
Ideally just pattern of rights and duties -> everyone obeys then opinions don't matter
All systems assume an established harmony.
Other philosophers took conflict for granted: Machiavelli
Worse name and more disciples than anyone else.
"Men judge more by the eye than by the hand"
People whose vision can't be corrected
