You don't often get to cheer for the rational approach, but Clifford Longley makes the case for "[g]enuine political debate" conducted by competent representatives, as opposed to populist urgings. I wonder if we (i.e., Canada) as a nation didn't accept this uncritically when our political parties moved to a 'one member, one vote" model. It would be good to have representatives & leaders who lead, not just echo the loudest ravings of our society. Pray for all who make (and enforce) laws in our name! - Fr. Matt
Irrational Impulses are part and parcel of populist politics
We should be worried about the survival of parliamentary democracy, our best and possibly only protection against tyranny and arbitrary government. We should be worried that it is being subverted by populism and demagoguery, which flies on wings of emotion and the mass mobilisation of gut reactions, rather than on careful and intelligent argument tested in debate. History teaches that plebiscites are easily manipulated by anti-democratic forces, even though they usually do so in the name of democracy.
Take three examples: the EU referendum, the battle for control of the Labour Party, and the takeover of the US Republican Party by the populist demagogue Donald Trump.
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