Representative Democracy: Not For the Jewish State

Thought: Representative Democracy is a dying species - it is no longer working, as it allows a minority to use the uninformed majority to serve the interests of their 'elite group'. This week we will exercise the mind, play with concepts, and start the debate on whether Representative Democracy is suitable for the Jewish State or not.

Representative Democracy Vs Direct Democracy

Representative Democracy

This type of Democracy, also called psephocracy, means that a government is formed upon the election of a group of officials who supposedly represent the people and serve their own interests. In simpler words, a so-called majority of voters have the power to dictate who will govern any country. But, as all things created by man, this method is flawed:

• The majority of the electorate is not knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice. How many of them know about economics, the homeland security, or even foreign policy?
• Because most voters are not well informed, they tend to vote for the cutest candidate, for the most charismatic one, in spite of his/her lack of political substance (Ex: Emmanuel Macron, Le Vaniteux)

Usually, under this system, votes are cast in a secret ballot. This is problematic as ballots can easily be swapped (like they do in some African, Latin American and Arab states) and since everything was done in secret, how do we know who voted for who? And please, international observers are duped every time – look at Mozambique and Angola, for instance.

Direct Democracy

This form of democracy allows the people to vote on policy initiatives directly. In a direct democracy, voters elect representatives but they are the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to policies – decided through referenda. This sort of Demokratia is interesting because it can work with other political systems like a Monarchy; furthermore, it encourages people to be more informed about the issues; and it is less susceptible to fraud especially if the vote is direct and cast out loud, in front of their peers.

A Jewish State Must Renounce Representative Democracy

Israel's Government

The Creator of Israel was very clear about who is to always govern the Jewish State: a Jewish individual.

One from among your brethren shall you set king over you; you may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. - Deut. 17:15

In a representative democracy (RD) there's always the danger of - with the help of the Jewish Left - having a Muslim, or even a Christian, element running the country (חס ושלום), and most probably erase the Jewish character of the State, just like Romans (the creators of the word “Palaestina”) tried once upon a time. By renouncing RD, Israel insures that the Jewish people will never be ruled by a non-Jew, and therefore avoid any existential threat.

The Rights of Non-Jews

I can already hear the dissenting voices calling this idea racist, xenophobic etc; but I invite them to put their ignorance and hysteria on pause for a minute: the Jewish directly democratic State, based on the Torah and on Jewish values, forces any Jewish leader to respect non-Jews and protect their Rights within the Jewish State. Why? Because we were commanded to do so:

And if a stranger sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger that sojourns with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your G-d. - Leviticus 19:33-34

Meaning that non-Jews have the same civil and human rights as Jews, in the Land of Israel. But also the same duties...

Israel Must Not Follow the Western Paradigm

The Jewish State is to govern itself based on the Torah, without turning into a Theocracy. By establishing a Direct Democracy, it opens the door to the establishment of the future Monarchy (“You shall in any wise set him king over you, whom the LORD thy G-d shall choose” - Deut. 17:15); and before the naysayers begin accusing all Kings/Queens of being corrupt, I must inform them that because the Jewish State is to be based on the Torah, it is a bit harder for the Monarch to yield to corryption because he was commanded to:

(..) Not multiply horses to himself, (…) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.  - Deut. 17: 16-17 

And who is supposed to ensure the King follows the Law? The Rabbinate (Deut. 17:18) that must also make sure he has a copy of the Torah in his office so “he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear the LORD his G-d, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them” (Deut. 17:19). Does this happen in a Representative Democracy, does a PM/President accept to be openly monitored by the Rabbinate? Are politicians in fear of the Lord that they do not engage in corruption? Nay, nay and nay.

Conclusion

History has shown us that Promiscuity between Church and State leads to Oppression and Suppression of Liberty; it has shown that Separation of Church and State is rife for Corruption, Perversion and Erosion of National Identity; but a Complement between Church and State is the Path to Peace and Prosperity for all. Therefore, any democratic paradigm that doesn't involve a complement between Government and the Rabbinate, is not fit for the Jewish State.

(Image[Ed]: Israeli Voter - JPost)

[The views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dissecting Society]