Anyone who studies populism, demagogues and the skilful use of political and commercial propaganda will appreciate that “the will of the people” does not, in itself, define the common good.
The will of the people is easily manipulated by irrational fears and desires to serve power interests that have no commitment to what is good for the polity. A healthy democracy must vigilantly guard itself against the ever present threat of covert alliances forming between its politicians and powerful lobby groups. Military-industrial, mercantile, media and financial centres of power must be kept at arms-length from political power. Polities and bureaucracies have their own internal weaknesses too. The civic health of a democracy is premised on strongly countering mob, autocratic and non-transparent power.
The Australian polity is showing serious signs of civic dyscrasia. The will of the people is being corrupted by responsibility-denying alliances between powerful commercial interests and government, by the political use of fear, and by the persistent enhancement of non-transparent “national security” policing powers.
