It has been over 350 years since the Dutch Jewish philosopher, Baruch Spinoza, translated Descartes and published his works widely in Europe. Spinoza was a major force in bringing us the Enlightenment. Democracy in Spinoza’s Holland was nearly one hundred years old at the time he was translating and publishing.
It is important to get these events in their proper sequence because the Enlightenment triumph of reason that took place over the ensuing 350 years has little or nothing to do with its earlier origins in democratic Holland.
I raise the subject of democracy and reason because it is evident to me that most people who live in democratic America complain bitterly, incessantly and perpetually about how bad our government is. It is hard for me to understand why so many people eagerly fondle this bitterness.
The level of complaints about our democratic government is growing worse; it’s not abating. One can tell this from a cursory reading of an 1844 newspaper or any other 19th century American publication.
My hypothesis is that Enlightenment ideas are permeating our society as time goes by. We have, today, more respect for science and technology. The consequence is that our form of government becomes less and less appealing. It is becoming appalling.
My thesis is simple. Democracy is not based on logic, inductive reasoning, nor empirical evidence, the three pillars of Enlightenment. Democracy is based on political power -- democracy is the transformation of political power into governmental action.
I needn't reiterate all the complaints about democracy. The complaints are reflections of what good politicians agree are the realities of democratic legislation.
Legislation is sausage making. The gun lobby is important because it is a small cohesive group of activists heavily represented in rural areas. Rural areas are over represented in legislative bodies. Gun opposition is politically weak because it is diffuse, disorganized and urban.
The whole society suffers loss of jobs and reduced economic growth from international trade because a few hundred thousand farmers control several dozen U.S. Senators.
Great corporations and universities get tax benefits because they have many employees and make substantial campaign contributions, as do labor unions. The milk industry makes a tiny contribution of money to Congress to get a gigantic return in higher prices for retail milk. The list of political irrationality is endless.
Reason, empirical evidence and logic are missing from the democratic legislative and governmental process.
Therein lies the problem. Unfortunately there is no solution. I don't expect us moderns, children of the Enlightenment, to embrace compromise, political expediency or pork barrel budgeting.
It is my guess that the future is one of Americans discussing the wonderful ideals of democracy and promoting democracy to the world, all the while cursing the reality of its daily functioning.