Citizens not Consumers:

Or, “give me liberty or give

me an iPad”, Part 1

James Miller, Democracy is in the Streets

Democracy

�Democratic decisions

�Representative Government

�PuzzlesPuzzles

�dangerous ideas

�complex information

Democracy is Illogical

�H. L. Mencken

�Democracy, ideal and real

�LegitimacyLegitimacy

�distinguished from obligation

�Democratic legitimacy

�consent

�utility

H.L. Mencken

Democracy is Illogical

�H. L. Mencken

�Democracy, ideal and real

�LegitimacyLegitimacy

�distinguished from obligation

�Democratic legitimacy

�consent

�utility

Democracy is Immoral

�The mob

�conformity, decency, homogeneity

�Democratic psychologyDemocratic psychology

�resentment

�Schadenfreude

Public Opinion

�The democratic faith

�moral right

�cognitive abilitycognitive ability

�Public opinion and democracy

�James Bryce

�George Gallup

�The opinions of the public

Major Media Audiences

Representation in Theory

�Tom Paine’s republican parable

�Representation

�division of labordivision of labor

�principals and agents

Tom Paine

Representation in Theory

�Tom Paine’s republican parable

�Representation

�division of labordivision of labor

�principals and agents

Representation in Practice

�Who represents me?

�James Fishkin’s dilemma

�How do they represent me?How do they represent me?

�life in Congress. . .

A partial list of elected representatives for James Fishkin of Austin, TX

Federal representatives

1 President

1 Vice President

32 Presidential electors

2 Senators

1 Member of the House

State representatives

1 Governor

1 Lieutenant Governor

1 Agriculture

County representatives

1 County judge

1 County commissioner

1 County sheriff

1 Tax-assessor / collector

1 Constable

1 District Attorney

1 Public Weigher

7 Judges, County Court at

Law 1 Agriculture

Commissioner

1 Comptroller

1 Treasurer

1 Attorney General

3 Railroad Commissioners

1 State Senator

1 State Representative

9 members of Texas

Supreme Court

9 members of Texas Court

of Criminal Appeals

3 members of the Third

Court of Appeals

Law

1 District Clerk

1 County Clerk

1 County Treasurer

1 County Surveyor

1 Justice of the Peace

Municipal representatives

1 Mayor of Austin

6 At-large City Council

members

School Board

1 President

1 Vice president

1 Member for district

A Representative’s ‘Average” DayACTIVITY AVERAGE TIME TOTAL TIME

On the Floor and in Committee

2:53 hours

In committee / subcommittee

work

Hearings

Business

Markups

Other

26 minutes

9 minutes

42 minutes

7 minutes

1:24 hours

In his or her office

With constituents

With organized groups

With others

17 minutes

9 minutes

20 minutes

With others

With staff aides

With other representatives

Answering mail

Preparing legislation,

speeches

Reading

On the phone

20 minutes

53 minutes

5 minutes

46 minutes

12 minutes

11 minutes

26 minutes

3:19 hours

In other Washington locations

With constitutuents

At events

With leadership

With other representatives

With informal groups

In party meetings

Personal time

Other

9 minutes

33 minutes

3 minutes

11 minutes

8 minutes

5 minutes

28 minutes

25 minutes

2:02 hours

Other 1:40 hours

Total average day 11:18 hours

Knowledge and Opinion

�The omni-competent citizen

�Limits to knowledge

�SourceSource

�Content

�Complexity and specialization

�The new political division of labor