By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The article examines the perplexing disconnect between American voters’ expressed preferences for policies like universal healthcare and infrastructure and their support for politicians who actively oppose these measures. Three theories are proposed: the “ignorance theory,” which suggests voters are unaware of candidates’ stances; the “Svengali theory,” blaming media propaganda for brainwashing voters; and the “politics-as-entertainment theory,” arguing that voters are more engaged with political spectacle than policy substance. Ultimately, the author posits a “this-is-who-we-are” theory, suggesting that voters may consciously support policies and politicians reflecting their values, even if those values conflict with their material interests, and that American democracy may be faltering as a result.
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We need a new theory of democracy — because this version has failed. It’s become clear that the current model, the one we’ve been operating under, isn’t working as intended. It’s not just a matter of tinkering around the edges; the very foundations need a serious overhaul.
The problems are multifaceted, but they all stem from a fundamental issue: the corruption of the system. We haven’t punished those who flaunt the principles of democracy. We’ve allowed powerful interests, primarily concentrated wealth and partisan politics, to undermine the core values. This has led to a situation where cooperation is sacrificed for relentless competition. We’ve got a system where a handful of billionaires control the media, and those same individuals fund the politicians, creating an environment where genuine democratic voices are stifled. It’s a rigged game.
The electorate is not to blame, but there is no question that a poorly educated, tribalistic, and often religiously-motivated voting populace, has contributed to a lack of democracy, not a failure of it. Ranked-choice voting, or proportional representation, would be a necessary step to make things better. Our current representative democracy has been distorted and corrupted. The Founding Fathers couldn’t have foreseen the problems of massive populations. The American experiment, in its current form, has concluded in failure. We can start with a new system and usher in a brighter future.
We need to move beyond our current framework. Direct democracy, where every citizen has a voice in policy decisions, could be part of the answer. But even if that’s not a viable option, there are other reforms to consider. For example, a parliamentary system could provide a more effective mechanism for the expression of the will of the people. This would avoid the issue where the electorate doesn’t elect the best candidate for the job. It would not be perfect, but it would be an improvement.
Another critical factor is the control of wealth. We need to break the stranglehold that the wealthy and powerful have on the levers of power. Unrestricted capitalism allows vast inequality and the legal bribery of politicians, which of course leads to a mess. The focus on the accumulation of wealth has become our dominant cultural value, creating a new form of aristocracy, against which the working class has no easy defense.
We must also address the apathy and the lack of critical thinking that has plagued our electorate. Investing in education, including the arts, is essential. Democracy depends on an educated populace that can think critically. The failure to do so has allowed misinformation and manipulative tactics to take hold.
This isn’t about dismantling democracy itself. It’s about reforming it, ensuring that it functions as it was intended. We must diffuse power and remove the incentives for clinging to it. The problems with the system are insubstantial. It’s failing because we’re failing to counter the manipulative and dishonest influence. If the state of our country was viewed through a more honest lens, we wouldn’t have people voting and acting against their own interests. Our republic has failed, but we haven’t truly tried a democracy yet.
The American experiment has failed because we haven’t taken care of the core ingredients for democracy. Democracy gives populations a reflection of their desires. And if you deserve to collapse, democracy gives you collapse. This is not a “failure” of democracy, on the contrary that is the very thing that makes it the superior system of governance.
In short, the current theory of democracy has failed because it has been systematically undermined by corruption, apathy, and the concentration of wealth and power. It’s time for a new theory, one that addresses these problems and creates a truly democratic system where the will of the people prevails.