The New York Times recently published an essay that proposes a controversial idea: eliminating elections as a means of selecting political leaders.
The author, Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, argues that American Democracy would be better off if voters were spared from the responsibility of choosing their preferred candidates.
Grant suggests that the current system of elections, which allows voters to exercise their free will and God-given rights, should be replaced with a randomized lottery system. According to Grant, this would not only give a chance to candidates who may be overlooked due to their physical appearance or lack of conventional qualifications, but it would also prevent individuals with what he refers to as the "dark triad" of personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) from attaining power.
Grant provides examples of leaders he believes possess these traits, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn. However, it is worth noting that Orbn's inclusion raises questions about Grant's true motivations, as Orbn is a popular pro-Christian politician who has been criticized by liberal elites for his conservative policies on issues such as LGBT rights, immigration, and EU bureaucracy.
The essay concludes by suggesting that America should follow the political trends in Europe and Britain, implying that the country should move away from its democratic foundations. This sentiment was echoed by CNN's Fareed Zakaria, who praised Grant's piece as "brilliant." However, critics argue that such a move would undermine the principles upon which America was founded.
Shortly after the publication of Grant's essay, the Atlantic also ran an article with a similar theme, titled "Americans Vote Too Much." The author, Jerusalem Demsas, argues that voters have too much influence in the decision-making process and that the government should prioritize responding to needs rather than catering to voters' demands.
Both articles, published by liberal outlets, propose limiting Americans' opportunities to choose their leaders and shape their government. This approach has sparked controversy and criticism from those who believe in the importance of individual freedom and the democratic process.
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