Why democracy is overrated

Here’s a game that I enjoy and you might like to play at your next dinner party: a little verbal jousting titled Overrated and Underrated.

t’s most fun when one of you chooses a contrary viewpoint and is prepared to shout down the more popular pastimes or passions. The general rule is the more esoteric or controversial the stance you take, the better. You’d be surprised at how agitated dog lovers become (and how much fun lies therein) when you pronounce dogs “overrated” and that, furthermore, anyone who loves them with that soppy devotion you often see should really work on getting more human friends first. I’ll concede that cats are as, if not more, overrated; you get very little back from a cat.

Something else that’s overrated is democracy.

It’s the unchallenged excuse nations give for going to war with countries whose citizens have food, running water and a new X-Box on their wish list, hundreds of places ahead of a ballot paper.

It’s also the excuse Simon Cowell gave when he declined to kick Jedward out of The X-Factor the other week. He reminded me of a modern day Marie Antoinette, not only ignorant of the baying, booing crowd, but also a leader who chose not to lead and take decisive action for the good of his people.

Instead of “let them eat cake”, he gave us “let the public decide” and Jedward survived. It was a dark day for democracy.

OK, it wasn’t that dark. Keeping Jedward in the competition a little longer helped ITV, sent sales of The Sun and celebrity magazines soaring and, as importantly, our customers love it. 

But imagine what our high streets and shopping centres might look like in the new year if we simply let the people or crude market forces decide our fate. Voted off our streets will be big brands with heritage and a place in our hearts, together with smaller, innovative niche retailers that bring much-needed diversity and innovation to our industry.

This Christmas more than any other, and before too many retailers decide to cut and run in January, all those who can influence the future make-up of our market – our bankers, town planners and those who set our business rates, landlords, centre management and trading associations – should seek to support the creative, the fabulous and the talented. We must find innovative ways of supporting new businesses and recognise that a large part of our own stores’ success is down to an interdependence we have with each other.

If we don’t support each other, we could find ourselves left with a high street full of Poundlands selling Jedward’s 2010 calendar and shopping will become the nation’s most overrated pleasure.

Jacqueline Gold is chief executive of Ann Summers