Democracy isn’t easy

Many people who have gone to support Trump are finding democracy too complicated or too high-maintenance, and would prefer an authoritarian system unencumbered by choices. A one-size fits all society, if you prefer. 

It’s true that democracy is a large tent that must make room for a wide variety of differences in people and for their great variety of aspirations and needs. All these complex issues are being fed into political and governmental systems that seem no longer able to process and digest all the multiple, diverse and complex requirements brought by today’s overpopulated and diverse society. 

Complexity is the order of the day. If you add to it economic problems like slow growth, rising inequality and welfare problems combine to make life more insecure for the working and middle classes and seem to spread economic risk, fear of the future, and social divisions into western societies. 

Social grievances might also bear some of the blame with traditions like religion, sexuality, family life and more, that are being challenged. At the same time, massive immigration, especially in the US and Europe, and the mobilization of oppressed minority groups have disrupted the existing social order, leaving some citizens angry and resentful. 

All these elements often grind the process of governing to an exasperating halt. This is what has created a fertile terrain for nationalist and fascist ideas brought forth by the Trumps of the world, advocating for easy, simple and naive solutions against highly complex problems. Their leadership also means far less choices and options available compared to what’s offered under a more diverse, difficult and complex democratic society. 

The choice is therefore simple: Democracy is a complicated luxury while tyranny is a simple tool and a seemingly happy prison.