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A significant contention I did come to share with the author after reading the book, though, was that of representative democracy's etymological incongruence with the word democracy itself. Democratic freedom is, in Mosley's words ''absence of privilege'', an untruth of elective government. Following a quotation of anarchist Proudhon's bleak take on what it is to be governed, Mosley states that we should do better in the name of ''freedom and democracy''. He illuminates some paths which may lead us to the form of democracy which was enjoyed by the ancient Grecians. Citizens' assemblies are discussed, and examples of these are presented, key ones being Swiss cantons and New England townships. The creation of civic bodies of scrutiny is called for; ordinary people, and not just media, need to work to ensure that suspicious activity is brought to light, and that government is all about working for the people. The objections to the return of the self-government-aspect of democracy - that masses are much too inept and/or disinterested to be so directly involved in leadership - are dismissed by Mosley, who points to the use of these ''unskilled people'' in the judicial system, as jurors.

For an example warranting Mosley’s criticism of representative government, do read [[A Very British Revolution: The Expenses Scandal and How to Save Our Democracy by Martin Bell]]. I recommend Roger Osborne’s [[Of the People, By the People: A New History of Democracy by Roger Osborne|Of the People, By the People: A New History of Democracy]] for someone who simply wants to learn about democracy’s course through time.