ABSTRACT

Democracy was a rare occurrence in the original Axial Period of human history. As a consequence of these and other problems, many observers of American politics, including a good many disenchanted politicians and ordinary citizens, believe that the US political process is not working as it was supposed to and are wondering whether it needs an overhaul. The writings of Plato, especially his Republic, contain some of the most penetrating criticisms of democracy ever written and they provide an excellent framework for understanding the current problems of democracy. In such a guardianship system, values flow downward from the rulers who are supposed to be educated to a vision of the Good that is imposed on the rest of society. In sum, Initiative and Referendum attack some problems of democracy while leaving others virtually untouched. Criticisms of democracy are not new and they have often had ethical as well as political overtones.