Progressives, Democracy, and the Elites
Progressives fought to get rid of elitism in the Senate only to create more anti-democratic elitism in the administrative state
In the early 20th century progressives thought they could enhance “democracy” -- and limit the influence of the elite -- by passing the 17th amendment that allowed for the direct election of Senators.
But what eventually happened made the government even less democratic than what it was before the passage of the 17th amendment.
When Franklin Roosevelt signed the New Deal into law in 1933, for instance, he did so with the help of newly and directly elected Democrat Senators that had retaken the majority for the first time since 1977.
And this passage of the New Deal resulted in codifying the power of the administrative state whereby the elite -- even more of them! -- would be in charge of substantial policy decisions by being appointed to serve on an obscure agency with vast powers.
So much for democracy and anti-elitism!
For at no time in US history were more elites empowered to make more consequential decisions without democratic oversight than when the administrative state came to be.
Perhaps, then, progressives should go back to the drawing board of democracy and let people make their own plans instead of unelected bureaucrats doing it for them.
But to do so they must acknowledge the inconvenient truth.
The elite will always find a way to prevail in politics.
Whether it’s in public under the watchful eye of the people.
Or in secret under the advice of their well connected inner circle.
The elite always win.
But for us -- philosophical republicans and market loving libertarians -- it’s how they win that matters.
Which should be done through competition and with accountability.
Not by fiat and hobnobbing with the elite to gain an appointment to an obscure governing board.
Perhaps, then, when the 17th amendment is finally repealed we can progress past this dip in democracy and restore power to the people by abolishing the administrative state.
Zigmund Reichenbach has an M.A. in Philosophy from West Chester University and works as an advocate for less government. You can help him combat bad ideas in politics and philosophy by donating to his work at https://ko-fi.com/zigmundreichenbach .
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