The End of Democracy

Haven't quite finished, but so far this book is an inoculation against democracy and all its sinister trappings that I didn't know I needed.

The author is just a touch too sympathetic to the Austrian School of Economics for my taste, but that's a minor detail.

Introduction

One cannot speak too highly of Christophe Buffin de Chosal’s The End of Democracy. In a fast paced, readable, yet scholarly fashion, Professor Buffin de Chosal* demolishes the ideological justification in which modern democracy rests while he describes the disastrous effects that democratic rule has had on Western societies. He explodes the myth of Democracy as a protector of individual liberty, a prerequisite for economic progress, and a promoter of the higher arts. Once Democracy is seen in this light, a far more accurate interpretation of modern history can be undertaken. The book is a very suitable companion to Hans-Hermann Hoppe’s iconoclastic take down of democracy in Democracy: The God That Failed, released at the beginning of this century. Buffin de Chosal has spoken of a follow up which will be eagerly awaited for.

The rest can be found here: https://christusrex.site/2019/07/19/demonocracy-the-great-human-scourge/

eds

Christophe Buffin de Chosal brilliantly busts democratic myths. Do the liberals really care about us? Are all of their decisions really motivated by "the will of the people"? Well...

"The parliamentary regimes which issued from the French Revolution imitated the British system: a king not in charge, ministers responsible to the Houses, and, above all, no universal suffrage. The bourgeois regimes' distrust of universal suffrage is easily understood. At the time, universal suffrage would have reinforced the conservatives, for the population would have spontaneously voted for its natural elite: manorial lords, notaries, and parish priests. ... Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the two states practicing universal suffrage were also the two most powerful and most conservative monarchies: Germany and Austria-Hungary." (p. 18-19)

On p. 45, the author makes a point increasingly common among monarchists, that of "time preference".

In his fifth chapter, the author tries to uncover what good the European Union does that outweighs its ills and cannot be done by nations, finding none. In his sixth chapter, he argues that democracy naturally drifts left. In his seventh chapter, he argues that democratic government brings the incompetent, not the competent, to positions of power. In the final chapter, he makes an interesting comment about popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI: he says that they "rightly pointed out that democracy should not be an ideology, but rather a simple system of governance and representation subject to moral imperatives; they made the mistake of believing, however, that democracy was such a system and that it could submit itself to 'non-negotiable' values" (p. 152-153). He also raises the startling possibility that Muslim society "will even seduce numerous Westerners at a time when parliamentary democracy will reveal its inability to serve the good of peoples" (p. 157).

This is too long and rambles but you are welcome to as much or little of it as you deem fit. Discovered Off The Menu on youtube beginning of this year. Now on Monday look forward to spending an hour or so with you and Charles. Keep up the good work and God bless you both.

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As a history minor in university in the late 60s, developed a lifelong interest in History, mostly Military History. A few years back the Peloponnesian War caught my attention, once again read Thucydides cover to cover and many later historians’ work.

This time around one of the prior unnoticed sub-texts was the volatility of the Athenian democracy. Granted it was a direct democracy therefore lacking the supposed buffers of a representative republic but as the last few decades have proven in America, the designed in checks and balances are not working.

On multiple occasions the Athenian demos would decide one thing one day, sleep on it overnight and the very next day vote almost the complete opposite.

One author in particular opined that the Spartans were indeed fighting for “the freedom of the Greeks”, while the Athenian Delian League was in fact an Athenian Empire. The Athenian democracy was more oppressive and repressive of their allies than the supposedly retrograde Spartans.

A number of later writers who site ancient sources advise that in the past democracy was not a favored form of governance, being at best emotional, unpredictable and easily swayed – not attributes sought in an ally. At worst, it is simply mob rule; a thin reed to hang a political system on.

Christophe Buffin de Chosal’s book is more than a replay of ancient critiques of democracy, it is an in-depth analysis of why it is a flawed system that is bound to fail by its very nature.

He elucidates how is in not Marxism, secularism, feminism, modernism et al that causes the eventual failure of democracies, much like Original Sin in humans, the seeds of its destruction are sown at its inception.

One example is that those who rise to positions of power from the local school board to the leaders of nation states are invariably the least desirable folk to have making decisions. To a greater or lesser degree, they are self-promoting egotists who once in power are only concerned with staying in power, even going so far as to make feints of providing succor to those who elected them.

Chosal offers myriad other examples and evidences of the innate long-term unviability of democracy. While he offers no solid alternatives, he is still worth the read if no other reason than to reaffirm one’s prejudices that we are living in a failed state.

In this book you have a quick and easy guide to unmask democracy as the farce that it is. Ever wonder why all our politicians are such scumbags? Ever wonder why our national debt is ever increasing? This book has the answer. Perhaps of most interest was the chapter in which the swine flu pandemic was touched upon. Large amounts of money was spent on vaccines and when they were finally made available to the public, the "pandemic" was over. Truly makes one wonder.

The book is a very accurate depiction of the current democratic system, who is really in control of the decisions being made, and the negative impact it is having on society.

This book is FILLED to the brim with arguments that thoroughly debunk the liberal premises that animate our current world.
Absolutely loved it.

There are many aspects of culture we accept without question. Democracy as "good" being one of them. This book offers a rare critique we can all benefit from.
I imagine the author lies awake at night, disturbed by how prophetic his book was. I'm reminded of my feelings reading 1984; and that was a decade ago.
Democracy, like Communism is a Utopian ideal with no basis in natural law. Thus, in every case it devolves into something more natural and less democratic.

A few years ago this book would have been considered radical for its suggestion that "democracy" and "representative government" are mirages contrived by a consolidated oligarchy for the unsuspecting masses, but having acquired this book in the year 2020, it seems that everyday experience is confirming the thesis, in my opinion at least. The End of Democracy is hard to unread!

There are two good reasons for buying this book. First, if you want to challenge your good faith in the democratic ideal with clear arguments and strong facts, and second, if you want a cogent explanation for the things you see on TV and the irrational spin of modern political discourse. In either case, you won't be disappointed!

This book is a necessary read for those who struggle with getting caught up in modern politics and does well reminding us about the importance of Catholicism in all political decisions.