Democracy means power to the people. But the people are influenced by rhetoric. Someone who is a good speaker can convince the people to go in one direction or another, for the common good or not, with accurate information or not. The people are easily manipulated.
In fact, a demonstration made by speaking loudly, confidently, and using emotions is more convincing than a reasoned speech. Opinion leaders exist.
Logical reasoning is not the most effective way of communicating, but it is reasoned discourse that allows people to escape these manipulative games and make informed decisions.
Since the philosophers of the Enlightenment in the 18th century who promoted reason, everyone’s standard of living has improved.
Citizens must be educated to reason and they must learn about manipulation techniques so that they are less prone to fall for them. They must have access to expert reports so that they can make informed decisions.
In a society that values those who think rationally, those who take the time to understand, those who seek reliable sources, those who aspire to social status will want to think for themselves. In a society that values instinct and personal pleasure this will not be the case. In a society that values strength, this will not be the case either.
The question is whether a manipulable crowd makes better decisions than a ruling elite, which is also manipulable and corruptible.
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise:_A_Flaw_in_Human_Judgment
Les illusions de la puissance – Platon et la politique – Avec Philosophie – Radio France – France Culture: https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/avec-philosophie/la-puissance-des-tyrans-n-est-elle-qu-un-leurre-5640009
Democracy allows decisions to be made that appeal to the majority, but it does not guarantee that good decisions will be made. Socrates pointed out that Athenian democracy did not always make the right decisions: for example, it used its hegemonic position to extort money from its neighboring allies.
Citizens must aspire to the common good and take the time to ponder.
Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump were elected to their first terms with a minority of votes. They lowered the standard of living of their populations and failed to keep their promises: unemployment rose, prices increased, and security declined. Yet they were re-elected with a majority of votes, including from people who suffered from their policies; this is not logical. Being in power during their first term, they had greater opportunity to promote their rhetoric of hatred, fear, and envy. The crowd was manipulated by strong emotions. The crowd was no longer rational.
Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama did not appeal to people’s baser instincts. They were re-elected because they brought prosperity to their countries: better healthcare, lower prices, higher wages. Their re-election was logical and reasoned. They became unpopular during their second terms because they disappointed their voters’ aspirations: they became neo-liberals, which led to the emergence of the ultra-rich and a significant increase in inequality, and they went to war in Iraq. It’s logical.
“Words words words..” Act 2, sc 2, Hamlet, Shakespeare.
The King’s speech – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King%27s_Speech
The Darkest hour– Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkest_Hour_(film)
Dunkirk – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_(2017_film)
Hitler Essen Speech Extended with English Subtitles – https://youtu.be/9OFjOokYBD8
The King’s Speech Scene #1 (1938 King’s speech): https://youtu.be/CaYp6hNsD4c
Darkest Hour and Dunkirk Combined in “We Shall Fight Scene”: https://youtu.be/sPaOJE73xjQ
L’appel du 18 juin 1940, De Gaulle – https://youtu.be/uRo-3Y1MdwQ
Le discours du Maréchal Pétain à la radio le 17 juin 1940 – https://youtu.be/gVsQU31rpvw
How Adolf Hitler, the tyrant who orchestrated one of the largest genocides in human history, could ever have risen to power in a democratic country? – Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard: https://youtu.be/jFICRFKtAc4
Translated with DeepL
