Perspective: It’s time to hold voters accountable for their choices
A voter casts a ballot at the Sherwood Center in Fairfax, Va., in the Republican Senate primary on June 12, 2018. By Matthew A. Sears Matthew A. Sears is an associate professor of classics and ancient history at the University of New Brunswick. May 20 Government accountability is an idea that draws bipartisan support: calls for more transparency and oversight of politicians and bureaucracies go over well with voters.
Thucydides — the historian of the Peloponnesian War, and an exiled elite who was no fan of democracy — criticized the people after Athens suffered horrendous losses in Sicily in 413 B.C.: “The people were angry with the politicians who had urged the expedition, as if they themselves hadn’t voted in favor of it.”
Although we should be hesitant to take elite authors at their word — especially because the Athenian democracy experienced its longest and most stable period after the Arginusae trial and the end of the Peloponnesian War — Thucydides and Xenophon do have a point. The Athenian people did make several decisions they would later regret, and, given that every Athenian citizen had rights to vote and speak in the assembly, the people were responsible for this power.
Which brings us to today. Democracy has expanded since the early years of the American republic, but accountability measures have not kept pace.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Historic trial tests whether big pharma can be held accountable for opioid epidemicThe Oklahoma trial is the first major trial of nearly 2,000 cases around the country in which states, cities and hard-hit local municipalities are seeking to hold opioid makers accountable for the epidemic that has left hundreds of thousands of Americans dead, and strapped resources in every state.
Read more »
Perspective | Why Roger Federer is the most graceful athlete of our timeA dance critic on the pleasures of watching the elegant tennis star, who belongs equally to the realm of aesthetics as to sports.
Read more »
Inside Trump's Air Force One: 'It's like being held captive'President Donald Trump's visit to Tokyo this weekend kicks off a summer of global jet-setting that takes him to five separate countries -- and confines him to the presidential aircraft for more than 80 hours flying overseas.
Read more »
Fed minutes: Voters say patient stance can last 'for some time'The voting members of the Federal Open Market Committee seemed comfortable with their patient stance on interest rate, agreeing it could last for 'some...
Read more »
28 Products To Buy For Your Annual “Well I Guess It’s Time To Actually Try” DaySIGH, I guess I have no choice but to get my life together now.
Read more »
Opinion | It’s time for Republican women to speak up for reproductive rightsI work in the Trump administration. The fight for global gender equality needs Republican women on its side.
Read more »
Opinion | It’s time to rethink electabilityOpinion: JRubinBlogger on rethinking electability
Read more »
'It's time to tell our story': Australia's LNG industry finally fights - RussellIt's taken a while but Australia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) industr...
Read more »