Is American-style democracy truly worth the trouble?
On paper, according to our Constitution, our republic has two notable features: accountable representation through regular elections and protection against government tyranny. The protection is achieved through the separation and sharing of powers (so no part of government can get too strong), due process and the rule of law, and civil liberties and civil rights.
Sounds good – except a lot of people have complaints. There is too much ugliness in our politics, too much grandstanding, too much gridlock, not enough problem-solving.
Maybe we need a form of government where a strong leader can act without restraint, without any concern for a polarized Congress and interfering courts. Just cut through all the nonsense and get things done. Autocracy.
Last month, the Journal of Democracy offered a comparison of these two options, democracies and autocracies. The author looked at more than 50 peer-reviewed analyses based on global datasets.
The evidence shows that representative democracies with protections against tyranny are better than autocracies in many ways that matter in our daily lives:
- higher incomes
- faster income growth
- less corruption
- more education
- longer lives, and
- more domestic tranquility.
How can these things be true when authoritarian governments don’t have to get bogged down in endless debates and political fights? The authors offer two key explanations.
- Electoral competition and accountability encourage politicians to prioritize problem-solving that matters. By contrast, the main problems solved by authoritarians are the ones that matter to them and their friends – usually how to get more money and power through corruption.
- Freedom for the media, combined with protections against government tyranny, allows government failings to be brought to light and discussed without retribution. By contrast, who will be brave enough to tell an authoritarian leader they made a mistake – or will soon if they persist with some policy?
We add our own observations:
- Protection from government tyranny means more freedom.
- Domestic tranquility is promoted by three things: the trust that comes from regular elections so that parties know they can always compete again, the feeling of legitimacy that comes from well-run, free, and fair elections, and the appreciation that comes from legislators and judges solving problems that matter.
What can you do if you aren’t benefiting from these advantages in your own life, since strong, unrestrained leaders aren’t the solution?
We propose a better option is to work to improve the two key features in our republic: accountable democracy and protections against government tyranny.
Even if you do not have the time to contribute your own efforts, you can learn the basic pros and cons of democracy versus autocratic governments in more detail from cross-partisan or nonpartisan sources like ours. Our materials are reviewed by experts on the right and left – we do not favor one party over another. Check them out here: CFFAD.org
We encourage you to also learn about your fellow Americans. Contrary to the polarizing messages all around us, a strong majority of Americans – right, left, and center – value mutual respect and free speech without fear of government retribution. A strong majority also supports accountable representation, civil liberties, and civil rights for all Americans. (See Builder’s Movement survey here.)
At the same time, it is good to be aware that there are passionate partisans – on the left and the right – who would be comfortable denying these things to their opponents if they thought it would help them win. (See our posts https://cffad.org/who-wants-the-separation-of-powers/ , https://cffad.org/dealing-with-political-violence/ , and https://cffad.org/gerrymander-war/ .)
You can also begin assessing the many proposals from the right, left, and center for ways to improve our system of government. Many organizations are working towards various solutions. You might find one or two you want to contribute time or money to.
