Mencken's Theory of Democracy

Mencken’s Theory of Democracy suggests that rather than being a system where ordinary people govern themselves effectively, it often functions as a way for average citizens to exert superficial influence, while real power remains with elites. He believed that voters tend to make choices based on emotions or superficial understandings, leading to decisions that serve the interests of a knowledgeable few. Mencken viewed democracy more as a popular spectacle or a tool for control by a select few rather than a truly enlightened or effective form of governance.