What if we thought everyone should participate in our democracy?
I realize that this is not entirely possible. To be specific, I know that my daughter is not entirely capable of understanding the intricacies of politics. She wants to eat at Taco Bell. She doesn’t understand the ramifications of paying Taco Bell employees a living wage. (Her mental acuity is similar to that of a five-year-old.) But she does want the best for everyone in her life.
So, let’s consider the mechanics of giving more people a voice.
In a representative democracy, the people vote for individuals they believe will represent them. While this isn’t a bad idea, it makes democracy at least one step removed. We don’t ask everyone what they think about every issue. We expect the endorsed representatives to act in a way that’s consistent with the majority of the people who elected them.
It turns out that we have the technology to do better. Most of the people in our country can use their phones most of the time. We could ask almost everyone to vote on multiple issues several times a day.
However, we don’t have the political will to do better. Too many powerful people and organizations are committed to the status quo.
Let’s put that aside for a moment and consider what would happen if many people in our country could vote on many issues daily.
We already have a clue. Gallup conducts frequent polls that provide some insights into what people care about.
These polls show that “Americans End Year in Gloomy Mood“. Only 24% of people polled are satisfied with the direction of the country. Gallup even tracks the State of the World’s Emotional Health! This shows that daily negative emotions are trending upward.
Of course, if we’re not happy, we can go deeper to see what policy questions are being considered.
Regarding economic confidence, “Consumer attitudes about the job market and overall economy slipped in November to their worst levels in over a year…”
Regarding mental health, “Americans’ assessment of their own mental health continues to erode.”
As of December 15, 2025, 59% disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President.
Would the USA be better off if we listened to the majority of people? I’m not so sure. This thought experiment comes with a word of caution.
In his book One-Dimensional Man, Herbert Marcuse talks about the “tyranny of the majority.”
If we’re currently enacting policies based on the whims of the oligarchy, there remains a danger in enacting policies based on the wishes of the majority.
While I think a “true” democracy has many advantages over a “representational” democracy, no system of government is perfect.
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