Why A 'Democratic' Community Wanes
From 'A Study of Our Decline' by P Atkinson (11-Nov-23)

Most citizens are ready to sacrifice the welfare of sociey for their own welfare, thus creating a venal society.

Start Of Social Decline
A community becomes democratic when it violently replaces traditional rule with rule by agents of the popular will, which means that most citizens no longer revere tradition but revere themselves and their opinions.

Reversal in the Nature of Authority
This is a reversal of authority for it stops being the master but becomes the servant of its charges. Government stops being guided by tradition but starts being tyrannised by popular notions so replacing sensible rule, which places truth ahead of popularity with irrational rule, which places popularity ahead of truth. Thus winning:

• Authority who indulge citizens' wishes, especially their own, at the expense of the community
• Citizens who view authority as the servant of their private fears and fancies.
• Parents who are the servants of their children.
• Children who respect only themselves: their private fears and fancies.

A Silly Community Wanes
Being ruled by popular fears and fancies means:

• Tradition is discarded as its restraints are resented, so losing duty, along with the purpose and identity it supplied.
• Science becomes superstition as only popular notions are accepted and truth is ignored.
• Competence and Wealth are lost with truth.
• Justice is replaced by tyranny as the law becomes the agent of imposing popular whims by persecuting all dissenters.
• Communal Order is lost with tradition so society becomes increasingly deluded and chaotic.