Has the project of Democracy gone too far? Can we rely on millions of moderately informed to very under-informed individuals to make decisions that will benefit society, and even the world as a whole?

The imbalance occurs as such: greater opportunity to effect policy and even lesser education on policy. Political activity in the Western World is most often reactionary.

There is a sense of injustice and entitlement, and like a caged animal, the public votes with their emotions instead of fully considering the consequences of their actions.

Political entropy is a by-product of desire. The ability to tamper with important policies, to completely dismantle functioning governing bodies, and elect candidates into office who have no place in public office, has become remarkably easy and subject to outrageously funded marketing schemes.

It calls into question the entitlement and rights we believe we earn as a citizen. Politics, unlike many other professions, endows a sense of ownership for every individual. Politics is an anomaly in that the public feels they have a right to make the ultimate decisions.

In other professions, some being equally as impactful to our lives as politics, we embrace what we don’t know. In general, the public seems to feel that they understand everything about politics and that the opinions they espouse are the absolute correct ones.

The greatest example of this is with the current departure of the UK from the EU. There is an overwhelming sense of regret by the UK citizens because of this referendum. More and more reports suggest that the UK citizens didn’t really consider the actual, real consequences of their vote. To many, it was a statement, a way to react to the feelings of disenfranchisement.

We see it now in the US with the current election. Instead of endorsing candidates who have worked as politicians and are trained in the profession. Reactionary feelings have launched a corporate entrepreneur onto the political stage. Feelings, uniformed by real knowledge of politics, have corrupted the democratic system. Democracy, the herald defender of humane policies and protector of corruption, has become the corrupter itself.

It has become a marketing scheme, one that elicits to the illusory tendencies of our emotions. It has become a reactionary system, not one that looks forward, that provides a unique opportunity for the public to stand behind an incredible recourse. It is no longer a creative force, but a soapbox, a reality-tv show, an endless hall of mirrors.

Consider all the atrocities enacted in the name of democracy. All the instability rendered by that flag. Because of the cavalier spirit, the arrogance, and military-industrial regime, democracy has done more to corrupt the world than save it from chaos.

We want to believe that we are protecting ourselves from those who do not have our interests in mind; yet, we are learning that we are failing to protect ourselves from ourselves.

In the end, democracy is only an idea. It is a praxis, it is not something that palpably exists. It is a project, that has incredible virtue and liberates ourselves from tyranny.

It was a beautiful idea that has spoiled. We take it for granted, we posses it individually like it belongs to us. It is our pet and we are entitled to its benefits.

But, if it should continue to maintain its creative potency, if it should work in the benefit of society and not as a detriment, then we have to reassess the concept as a whole. We are slowly losing one of the greatest achievements of mankind.