Disturbing aspect of the presidency #7,214 is the president’s statements, supposedly on behalf of the American people, to the effect that our country won’t give in to car-bombers, that “we” will accept nothing less than victory, etc. This in spite of poll numbers that clearly indicate the people’s restlessness about the war and their desire to see Americans withdrawn relatively promptly. So on behalf of what “American people” is Bush speaking? Is he uniquely equipped to divine the “general will” that transcends such crude means of discerning public opinion as actually asking people what they think?

Along these lines, I recently came across an interesting book: Ernest C. Bolt, Jr., Ballots Before Bullets: The War Referendum Approach to Peace in America, 1914-1941 (University Press of Virginia, 1977). Among other things, this book discusses the fascinating but totally neglected (and, unfortunately, ill-fated) Ludlow Amendment of the 1930s, which would have required a national referendum before the nation could be committed to war. (Exceptions were made for outright invasion of American soil.) FDR was staunchly opposed, needless to say. It’s W. all over again. The president poses as the representative and spokesman for the American people, but he has utter contempt for their actual opinions.

Now the Ludlow Amendment, even if passed, would not have solved all problems. One can only imagine the pro-war propaganda that would precede any such vote. But it would at least have been one more hurdle the War Party would have to jump.

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