13 October 2008

Rhetoric: the art of persuasive speaking or writing.                                                   Charisma: ability to inspire followers with devotion and enthusiasm - great charm.

These are two characteristics without which democratic politicians have great difficulty in becoming elected.  But they are more: they are characteristics that endear any leader to the people who want to believe in him or her.  Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Hitler, Mussolini, Chavez names come to mind; all achieved success by having and desplaying these characteristics.  They are, in and of themselves, neither good nor evil.

Charismatic leaders with rhetorical talent, however, as is the case with all people who achieve success, are susceptible to buying into their own hype, and when it comes to power they become easily enamored of it.   When the hype - the rhetoric - is based on populism, and worse, when it is unrealistic,  it can be dangerous; particularly when it promises something for nothing.

Democratic politicians are prone to that because it yields votes, because voters, particularly voters who are ignorant of facts and historical perspective, are easily convinced when the convincing has to do with them being favored by the outcome.  After all, that's what people expect of their representatives, that they, thier representatives, will take action that favors them in some way or another, and they, voters, tend toward immediate gratification.  Most people have little patience for "the long run".

Put this together and you will see why charismatic, populist politicians exude optimistic rhetoric: it works.  It is also why the people are so often guilty of making dangerous choices.  What seems good for us in the short run may prove destructive in the long run. - many have learned that the hard way.  The antidote lays in the basic assumption of democracy: knowledge and understanding; it is also difficult to achieve, because it takes effort, lots of it.  To have knowledge one must have an open mind, want to learn, be willing to make the effort to read and listen with an open mind; and to care, not only  for self in the short term, but community in the longer term.

Democratic success is possible because voters by and large are not stupid; democratic success is not assured because voters by and large do not make the effort not to be ignorant.  Short term promise and long term success are not the same thing; the ultimate success of our republican experiment is only assured if we understand that - and act accordingly.