Centrists Are Soft-Launching the Idea That We Have a Little Too Much Democracy
As the right attacks mass participation head on, the center is telling the rest of us to pipe down while the elites are talking. The post Centrists Are Soft-Launching the Idea That We Have a Little Too Much Democracy appeared first on The Intercept .
Centrist liberals are questioning the level of democratic engagement in the United States, suggesting that too much participation may be detrimental. Over the past two years, they have been openly advocating for reducing public involvement in government and politics. Matthew Yglesias, for instance, has stated that "What we need is fewer engaged people" on Twitter.
This sentiment is particularly evident in the hostility towards small-dollar donors, with some arguing that widespread grassroots fundraising "makes politics dumber" as it pushes Democrats away from the preferences of the median voter. Centrists argue that the rise of both left-wing economic populism and right-wing chauvinistic populism poses a threat to the "vital center."
They contend that the destruction of organized labor, civil rights organizations, and robust state-level party infrastructure has contributed to the failures of liberalism. Critics contend that this moderate approach undermines the principles of democratic governance and may lead to an authoritarian future.
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