Tyranny of the Majority

Yesterday, on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 programme, Sir Iain Blair, talked about his role in the Metropolitan Police and how politicians influence policing. During the course of the interview he used the term "tyranny of the majority".

It is a fear that Interactive Democracy may lead to an immoral, brutish system, where the dumb majority lash out in anger and frustration, controlled by all sorts of base reactions and demagogy. Interactive Democracy need not be this. It could be a system that fosters creative ideas and honest debate. It would be ameliorated by Parliament and would allow moral, scientific and expert leadership (like Sir Iain) to argue their points and persuade those that were interested. It would give voice to those with direct, grass roots, experience. In short, it would enhance the debate and provide a system to conclude it.

With fair balances of power we can avoid the tyranny of rulers and the tyranny of mobs.