Democracy and Caeserism

In my 2015 article examining Joseph Heath's book Enlightenment 2.0, I expressed concerns about extending democratic governance to every facet of contemporary society. I argued that such overextension leads to incoherence, gridlock, and frustration, which can ultimately erode democracy's legitimacy. I believed democracy functioned as a check on Leviathan, while Heath viewed it as a safeguard against government by experts.

I lamented the legislature's diminished role, but I was particularly troubled by the increasing contempt for Congress, which fueled support for a strong executive capable of decisive action. This sentiment was echoed in Canada and the United Kingdom, as highlighted by F.H. Buckley's book The Once and Future King. While acknowledging the legislature's shortcomings, I maintained that it provided a more liberty-friendly environment than a powerful executive and the administrative state.

Legislators were content with re-election and some pork-barrel spending, whereas executives craved greatness and, in their pursuit, inadvertently fostered detrimental outcomes such as idolatry, centralization of power, and war.

I emphasized that this perspective predated Donald Trump's emergence as a prominent political figure. In a subsequent addition, I referenced my review of Heath's Enlightenment 2.0, which contained valuable insights. The article explored the contrasting messaging of markets and politics. Market communications tended to be inclusive and cosmopolitan, as seen in Coca-Cola's "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" campaign.

Companies promoted brand affiliation without inciting hatred towards competitors. In contrast, Pepsi's "Pepsi Generation" campaign disparaged Coke drinkers, alleging they were stealing jobs and spitting on gods. This observation was acknowledged by @kingofthecoastt, who referenced my original post on Twitter. The article "Democracy and Caeserism" originally appeared on Marginal REVOLUTION.