Public choice theory doubted that political democracy transforms citizens who never learned self-discipline.

Evidence

Buchanan was frankly skeptical of the capacity of majorities to develop policies that would redress their own moral, cultural, or economic failings. “A shift of activity from the market sector cannot in itself change the nature of man,” he and Tullock concluded. “The man who spends his time at the tele vi sion set or in his automobile in private life,” they added drily, “is not the man who is likely to vote for more taxes to fi nance libraries, concerts, and schools.” — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, 300

Categorization

• CANDY: The television-and-automobile jab at democratic voters is a quotable, dismissive bon mot worth sharing.
• XREF: connects to: Public choice theory depicted democratic politics as systematically harming the public interest. — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 481; Democracy is not self-sustaining and may need undemocratic supplements. — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s…, 413

Broader Connections

• Democracy is not self-sustaining and may need undemocratic supplements. #expands (0.80) — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos, 413