What is Democra...

Democracy, so long as it is what it is,imperfectly educated,throws a great responsibility on the leaders.The average voter even in educated England has no opinion of his own on many questions.He chooses his party by tradition or by his agreement with its central aims in those matters on which he has strong views.On other questions he takes his opinions from the leaders.His conscience is clear when the party is chosen and for the rest the leaders decide and the voters obey.In a complex social machine, it is difficult for the units to exercise thought.It is easier to be obedient automatically.It does not even pay to think.Perhaps thought may prove costly.If the leaders want to create public opinion,the machinery of the press and the wireless makes it most easy.Modern conditions afford propagandists vastly increased oppurtunities of promoting collective excitement and setting the world in a conflagration.A few clever and adventurous leaders can excite people's passions and suppress intellecual freedom.In these circumstances,truth does not win as there is no attempt to find out truth.