The Franchise Isn't for Everyone

Recent (and not so recent) events have convinced me more and more that a limitation of the franchise would be beneficial to the Philippines. The concept of "one equal vote per adult" after all was not generally accepted in democracies until the middle of the last century. Prior to that, the right to vote in most democracies was contingent on financial situation, landholdings, sex, race, or other factors.

While I certainly don't advocate using any of these qualifications again, it might be worth considering limiting the franchise to those who have finished high school, who are at least more likely to think for themselves and less prone (I hope) to the blandishments of populists. Since education is provided by the state up to the high school level, everyone is given the chance to be enfranchised. One side benefit, too, is that the powers-that-be will have even more incentive to improve the state education system. We have an age qualification for voters, why not (a very basic) educational qualification as well?

Given the difficulty, though, of taking back the franchise, the next best thing is to make our democracy less of a direct type and more of a representative type. Instead of a directly elected head of government (one level of representation removed), having a PM elected by elected MPs (two levels removed) would provide more insulation. The executive won't have to pander to populist passions, and opportunistic populists won't be elected to the executive. And to those who would say this setup is less democratic, I don't hear the British, or Canadians, or Australians, or Germans complaining. You don't like how your MPs voted, then don't re-elect them. Democracy isn't diminished, only its worse excesses tamed.