Analysis of democracy using the incompleteness theorem

Sep 12, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Kurt Gödel, a mathematician, incompleteness theorem proved using logic a branch of maths that: 1. All systems with rules are either incomplete or contain contradictions. 2. A system cannot correctly assess itself. I use these 2 mathematical axioms to discuss the state of representative democracy globally.
Firstly the state of the United States (US) , the world’s most powerful democracy, political dilemma is a validation of those principles. Most of the world are taken aback by US President Donald Trump America first and don’t worry about no one else political philosophy. A country that claims to be land of the free elected a man with authoritarian tendencies. He brutal to anyone that opposes him and said the press is the enemy of the people. The second axiom suggest that the US cannot properly asses herself (axiom2). The US believes she is the good guy and those who oppose her (the US) are bad. That is the antithesis of a free world but the philosophy of a dictator which supports axiom 1 – the contradiction. The US has abandon multilateralism and employ bilateralism which is less democratic.
Secondly, let’s examine Brexit. The prime minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson have suspended parliament so that a law cannot be passed that would prevent a no deal Brexit. The contradiction is that a democratic elected leader is preventing debate an integral part of democracy. It is legal under the UK system hence reinforcing axiom 2.
These 2 leaders have emerged out of the 2 countries regarded as the paragon of democracy and both are more focused on political agenda than the health of their country’s democracy and care far less about the global democratic order.
Looking at Guyana, a country know globally as a democracy has chosen to delay election that was constitutionally due 90 days after December 21, 2018;The day of the vote of no confidence against the Granger administration occurred. This is a contradiction because that Guyana constitution gave a 90 day limit. This delay was further by the Caribbean Court of Justice which was coy and wanted to use moral suasion on the government – axiom 1. The Caribbean Court of Justice has no enforcement mechanism. It has to depend on local enforcement mechanism. Axiom 2 is that it is constitutionally permitted. The very Guyana constitution has no adequate remedy for the delay in holding election after a vote of no confidence.
You become by doing and globally and locally democratic norms are being bent. As a mathematician the incompleteness theorem explains these phenomena. Whether capitalism, communism, democracy or dictatorship, they all obey the incompleteness theorem. That is why I believe every system must evolve or become irrelevant or obsolete.
Yours truly,
Brian E Plummer

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