也论“多数人统治”的民主困境——以“卡潘/盖洛普对公立学校的民意调查”为例

Analysis of the Dilemmas of "the Majority Rule" Democracy——through "Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes toward the Public Schools"

民主要求实行"多数人统治",依据民意来做出决策。但事实上,实行"多数人统治"这种民主模式必须满足一些前提条件,包括理性的公民、充分掌握信息以及有效参与等。从"卡潘/盖洛普对公立学校的民意调查"这种较为科学的反映民意的调查手段可以发现,由于这三种前提无法充满满足,所以实行"多数人的统治"这种民主模式、依据民意来做出决策必然会面临困境。审慎起见,民意只能用于决策的参考而非依据。

Democracy asks for ＂the Majority Rule＂ and decision--making based on public attitudes. However, in fact, some prerequisites have to be fulfilled for the implement of this democracy mode, including rational citizen, the mastery of information and effective participation. According to the analysis of ＂Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public＇s Attitudes toward the Public Schools＂, the democracy mode of ＂the Majority Rule＂ and decision--making courses based on public attitudes will inevitably confront dilemmas. Public attitudes should be reference instead of gist on decision--making.