Who cares what the People think?

When politicians inform us what the people do or do not want, surprise: to hear the pol tell it the people invariably want whatever pet project said politico is pushing for the big-money interests that own him or her. It makes no difference whatsoever what polling data actually shows. To hear politicians tell it, even wildly unpopular ideas are “the will of the people” if the moneybags behind the politician want the unpopular initiative advanced.

And how inherently right is the will of the people? Slavery was once popular, women’s suffrage was seen as unconscionable, interracial marriage was illegal and everyone wanted it so, the people wanted prohibition, then they got it and wanted the end of prohibition, they elected George Bush for President… oh wait, even the American People didn’t want that. They were just outvoted by 5 Republican appointees on the Supreme Court. But after he was installed by the Court, the people did back him on his ingenious idea of starting an illegal and ill-fated war with Iraq.

So why should we be impressed when pols claim it’s the will of the people? They will outright lie to justify doing things they want to do for reasons that probably work directly against the great bulk of the people they represent. And even when they, on rare occasions, are telling the truth that something is the will of the people, what’s to say the people aren’t wrong yet again? Wouldn’t real leadership be standing up and saying, “Here’s why we should do this, and I hope to win over enough support to get it done.”?