this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.
OK, and? Democracy isn't some god to worship. If democracy can't achieve good results, is it not reasonable to view alternative systems as a next choice?
Well, that would leave oligarchic and authoritarian systems. If we assume that every politician is primarily looking out for itself, then the people should go with a democratic system. A dictator is after all, only beholden to itself, and will aim to extract wealth from the people it rules to secure its own position and lifestyle. If the US where to switch from a democracy to a dictatorship, most citizens would see their taxes go up, and their economic and political freedoms decline. And for the USA, this would spit in the face of conservative values.
Nobody says we must maintain some "pure" system. For an already existing example, passing a constitutional amendment is far, far more difficult than regular legislation. Is that undemocratic? By the most "pure" definition, yes. It's far from just letting everything be decided by 50+1 popular vote. Or hell, even the fact that we have representatives we elect instead of using direct democracy for everything.
Limiting democracy doesn't mean just installing a dictator or something. It can be as simple as placing some issues beyond the reach of majoritatian whims. I never see any of the people crying about democracy upset that their free speech isn't under question of majoritatian will.
Have you even read the comment I'm replying to?
That's certainly what Republicans want but there are alternatives. Our current system is pretty authoritarian anyway, TBH.
Well, yeah, American democracy is rather flawed.
Not even in the slightest