The cradle of democracy

Greece is having its turmoils. The young, who regard as a rite of passage, are revolting in the streets. The anarchists are joining them with looting supporters.

On top of this the trade unions are calling a massive strike and demonstration.

The leader of the pan-hellenic socialists, whom the BBC seem to regard as some kind of saviour, at least in giving him lengthy periods to expound his thoughts and criticisms, is calling for the government to be brought down. He wants a new government, presumably run by him or one of his colleagues, to represent the people. He speaks of fraud and other failings of the government.

I do not support the government, mainly because I know nothing about them. On the other hand it is not democracy but anarchy to try to replace by direct action a democratically elected government which has not exceeded is term. The chief complaint seems to be that Greece is suffering from the recession, which according to Gordon Brown we must call global.

You can dress it up as you want, call it "the people" acting, but there are more democratic means at the disposal of the electorate, including exposure and legal redress if there has been fraud.

The essence of democracy is that the government reflects the wish of majority, not the noisiest or most troublesome section, and that the total electorate has the power to oust them because of failure when next there is an election.

Rabble-rousers and even opposition leaders who have a vested interest in harming the sitting government can easily claim to speak for the people when there has been no election. Democracy relies on all accepting the results of properly conducted elections, and not trying to undo the result because they do not like what the government does. Their time will come after a few years when the next election is held, always supposing that they can persuade enough electors to support their cause.