Popular Rule as foolish as tyranny ?

              The days after an election put the unhappy voters or non-

    voters in a pensive mood. I was not very interested in ivory tower

    political cogitations, but I now realize that the deep thinkers in

    our culture must rethink the very meaning of DEMOCRACY.

             A little thinking will reveal that direct popular democracy

    can be as disastrous for a people as the rule of a narrow minded

    oligarchy. On just what questions and issues can a mathematical

    majority claim more wisdom than the informed minority and a tiny

    number of specialists in every field of knowledge ?

              For example, what can I possibly know about Iraq's real

    intentions -belligerent or otherwise ? Or, what does it matter

    what the majority of voters think on the REALITY of global warming ?

                Should we consult a kind old socialist about a complex

    problem of international finance ?

              A person elected to high office in the United States must

    somehow manage to be a voice for his constituents AND a LEADER - in

    a position to explore issues more deeply.

               Popular wisdom can predominate -perhaps - in one area: on

    the general distribution of wealth and resources in a society. Here

    COMPROMISE is always possible: A " bum " in the street might ask you

    for 5 bucks. You are inclined to give him nothing or a quarter. Then

    you recognize him as a truly needy person - of the worthy poor. You

    give him 3 bucks and a " good luck " wish.

                 The Hubble telescope is a gift to all mankind -even if

    it took pennies away from every pauper in the country.

             A man is a man even in the gutter: He looks up at heavens

    with wonder. A wonderful picture of the infant universe is even more

    inspirational than a cigarette and a cup of coffee.

                Even in the gutter the bum dreams dreams !