Top Highlights

• the assumption that political leaders have a better sense of the community’s long-term interest than ordinary citizens do.
• We can question faith in God without being accused of having lost our moral compass, but the same tolerance is not extended to those who question faith in one person, one vote;
• we agree that electoral democracy is a universal political good. It is good not only for us, but for the rest of the world.
• political “realists” warn us that democracy cannot readily be established in poor, developing countries.
• political order was necessary for economic and social development. Premature increases in political participation—including early elections—could destabilize fragile political systems in the developing world.