democracy

CNN's top story this morning is the creation of a National Security Service in America. The BBC's top story (in Britain at least) is attempts to agree an EU budget. Really they are the same story: leaders plan unpopular ways to control us.

Let's look at who voted for this. Let us look at the American numbers - the numbers are much worse in the EU. George W. Bush was elected in 2004. Or at least, that is what we are told. Large numbers of votes were produced by voting machines, and their results can never be tested. Remember that Supreme Court ruling that everyone is entitled to a vote but nobody is entitled to have that vote counted? But I digress.

Based on official figures, in 2004 just over half of Americans voted. And just over half of those voted for Bush. How many of these people really wanted Bush? The "first past the post" or "winner takes all" system means there is no point in voting for who you really want. That would split the vote, and let in your more organized opponents. No, the only real choice is for a compromise candidate. I think it is safe to bet that at least half of those who voted for Bush only did so because they disliked Kerry even more. So the real support is half of half of half - just one eighth of the people wanted him. And do those people then get what they want? No, because politics is all about horse trading, and more compromise. In summary, almost nobody really wants this, but all the other choices (other governments) are even worse.

I could go on, but let us conclude with that one observation: in modern democracies, the vast majority of people do not get the government they want.