> because when the constituency (read: supporters) are put in an emotionally agitated state, they can be manipulated to believe just about anything […] That’s

> because when the constituency (read: supporters) are put in an emotionally agitated state, they can be manipulated to believe just about anything […] That’s democracy, at its most basic. Often, it means people with little access to education, but with a lot at stake, casting votes that go against their own interests. And in the U.S., it’s not as if party leadership on either side truly represents them anyway. The upside, though, is significant: when power shifts, we usually don’t resort to violence. That simple fact - the peaceful transfer of power - provides the stability necessary for society to function and potentially thrive.