Anton Brakhage on Spoutible

1/8

Whenever you see an argument that there should be more age limits on candidates, or term limits, or IQ tests to run for office or even to vote- beware. This is a trap, and one that draws in many well-meaning progressives.

11:27 PM - Jul 30, 2023 (Edited)

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

2/8

These are all fundamentally anti-democracy arguments, premised in the belief that the people (or some portion of them) are too stupid, that the Unwashed Masses cannot be trusted with self-government, but must have our choices carefully curated to ensure the "right" result.

11:28 PM - Jul 30, 2023

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

3/8

They also draw on a "both sides" hostility to "politicians", which obfuscates nuances, normalizes the worst, fuels cynicism and hostility to democratic government, and prepares people to be receptive to the rule of a Strongman. In short- the very things many of their advocates say they are against.

11:30 PM - Jul 30, 2023

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

4/8

They also avoid the real issue, the reforms that are really needed, in favour of pandering to faux-populist outrage. Suffice to say, there is a REASON why Congressional term limits are a darling of the fascist Right, why they constantly harp on Biden's and Feinstein's age.

11:32 PM - Jul 30, 2023

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

5/8

One might also do well to remember the history of how rigged "literacy tests" were used to keep Black people from voting. Or how the right the Republican Party is constantly throwing hurdles in the paths of voters' eligibility and ability to participate today.

11:33 PM - Jul 30, 2023

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

6/8

Or how the Electoral College, touted as serving exactly this purpose-as a safeguard against the ignorant mob electing a demagogue-instead made said demagogue President, against the will of the voters.

11:34 PM - Jul 30, 2023 (Edited)

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

7/8

What we need is not more restrictions on who can vote and who can run, in order to ensure the outcome we want.

11:36 PM - Jul 30, 2023

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

8/8

What we need instead is a committed push to protect voting rights, and make a system where elections reflect the will of the people. Because at the end of the day, you either believe in democracy, that people deserve and have the capacity for self-government... or you don't

#Democracy
#votingrights

11:39 PM - Jul 30, 2023

dmark

@dmark

In response to Anton Brakhage.

I agree. We have term limits. They are called elections.

12:03 AM - Jul 31, 2023

Anton Brakhage

@Anton_Brakhage

In response to dmark.

Yup.

Term limits on elected officials are an arbitrary limit on voters' choice, based on "both sides"-ism.

Note that I DO support term limits for non-elected offices, such as judges, because those don't have period reelection as a check to keep them accountable.

12:05 AM - Jul 31, 2023