“The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835).
Today we celebrate the works of Alexis de Tocqueville. He was born in France on July 29, 1805 and died on April 16, 1859.
In 1831 he and his lifelong friend, Gustave de Beaumont, visited America. Tocqueville was fascinated with American social and political life because of the difficulties France had developing institutions that favored liberty. When Tocqueville returned to France, he began writing Democracy in America, published in 1835. It is considered to be one of the best accounts of American systems and culture even today.
His work is quite amazing. To me, the 3 most telling sections in reflecting on America today are:
1) the discussion of associations and the importance of civic organizations (Elk’s, moose, library, etc.) to making us feel like we are part of a broader community. At its best, this website does that in a modern way. But those organizations are largely being lost in our world and it is a significant problem to our society which has too many people who feel no connection.
2) His observation that Americans, if given the choice, will choose equality over liberty. They are willing to accept draconian laws if those laws make us more equal.
3) Of course, the tyranny of the majority which has been put on steroids in the world of twitter where one misstatement leads to the complete discrediting of an individual. As Tocqueville says, we do not lock that person in chains or put them on the rack but instead we take away all their friends, their livelihood and all social status.