Chait on representation

Jonathan Chait ponders the complexities of representative democracy while thoroughly skewering conservative commentator Fred Barnes:

Even funnier, if it wasn’t so morally deranged, is the way Barnes cites a poll showing little concern for global warming and immediately concludes that nothing should be done. Uh, Fred, aren’t you skipping the step where you say that Americans are correct to think global warming is not a danger? I mean, that view’s totally at odds with the scientific consensus, but saying so at least gives the the veneer of caring about something other than the short-term political interests of the GOP.

Barnes is pretty clearly out of line here.   However, Chait dismisses the argument out of hand which would argue that political parties should indeed reflect the will of the majority of the electorate and, further, that the short-term political interests of a party are simply to reflect that will and are thus entirely appropriate.

Clearly global warming is a real problem and one whose costs are not perceived in the day-to-day of the American electorate, but Chait needs to do more work here to demonstrate his conclusion that politicians should disregard the will of the public when the politicians themselves hold a different view on a given issue.

-John

Related posts:

  1. Chait’s culture war
  2. Out with the old in with the new
  3. How many votes should be required to pass bills in the Senate?
  4. Linker on Strauss on Torture
  5. Snownership

May 11, 2009 · Filed Under John, Representation

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