Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 | 2 a.m.
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Populist support for an authoritarian ruler historically provides the chief argument for dumping democracy and replacing it with a system of aristocracy.
In every democracy, there comes a day when the working class demonstrate that they no longer have the knowledge or sophistication to responsibly exercise civil rights like voting and office holding. For example, they choose an ignoble and deceitful rogue like Donald Trump.
The “mob” of benighted and unruly people can no longer be trusted with power. Only the upper class can find people of refinement and good character to hold political office.
Political leaders like Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are already making arguments for special aristocratic privileges like immunity from prosecution for the upper crust. Efforts are being made everywhere to limit access to voting for the poor and working class.
Even Trump disavows the people who support him, saying they are so ignorant he could murder someone on Fifth Avenue and they would still love him. He wants aristocracy as much as anyone else, and he knows how to get it.
