When people put their ballots in the boxes, they are, by that act, inoculated against the feeling that the government is not theirs. They then accept, in some measure, that its errors are their errors, its aberrations their aberrations, that any revolt will be against them. It's a remarkably shrewd and rather conservative arrangement when one thinks of it.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the idea that through the act of voting, individuals develop a sense of ownership and responsibility for their government. By participating in elections, people come to accept that the government's mistakes and deviations from the norm are a reflection of their own collective choices. This realization discourages them from easily resorting to rebellion or upheaval, turning them into diligent stakeholders. This perspective suggests that the electoral system can be seen as a clever and somewhat conservative mechanism that encourages citizens to take ownership of their government's actions and encourages stability.

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