Corruption threatened virtue which was the expression of liberty in collective life. Only a government in which they directly participated in could eliminate corruption.
The lesson of Pocock’s reading of the founders is that if you are going to defend democracy you had better explain what problem democracy is going to solve. And, crucially for the present moment, eliminating corruption is a great candidate with a long historical lineage.
Corruption is a powerful theme with Teslas being hawked in the White House, contracts going to insider firms, and Trump lining his pockets. Label it all as corrupt and explain how the institution of democracy helps to eliminate it, plus it safeguards freedom, creates prosperity, etc.
If I were to interpret your point, I’d say a competitive democracy forces all parties to treat each other as they wish to be treated when out of power, I.e., Golden Rule/Kant’s categorical imperative. If they aren’t, they don’t expect to fall out of power.
I’m pretty sure he doesn’t understand the concept as it was designed by Navarro, who was looking to even up the playing field, not reciprocate on top of responses to an initial set of tariffs …
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