  Both the voting that does happen and the non-voting or free riding that accompanies it as well as the level of ignorance of voters call simple normative theories or views of democracy into question. “The will of the people” is a notoriously hallowed phrase that is vitiated by logical fallacy and that is generally meaningless as a supposed characterization of democracy, in which decisions are majoritarian and not unanimous (Kant [1796] 1970, 101; Maitland [1875] 2000, 101–112). It might on rare occasion be true that the people are in virtually unanimous agreement on some important policy so that they share the same will on that issue. But generally, there is a diversity of views and even deep conflict over significant policies in modern pluralist democracies. In large societies, democracy is invariably representative democracy except on issues that are put to direct popular vote in referendums. Even this term, “representative,” is gutted by logical fallacy. My representative on some governmental body is apt to work on behalf of my interests some of the time and against them some of the time. Even those for whom I vote often work against my interests; and if they should be said to represent me, they often do a very bad job of it.