According to the media, Mitt Romney “won” the first presidential debate with Barack Obama, which took place yesterday evening. “Obama on the back foot,” some newspapers report. “Romney finally gets off the ground,” report others. But what does this say about democracy in America? Could it really be that the choice of one of the most important politicians on the planet depends on a few television performances? Judging from past experience, this is actually the case. I still remember being baffled when Ronald Reagan “won” his first presidential debate with Jimmy Carter more than thirty years ago. This was the first time I watched such an event on television. In my mind, Carter was the undisputed winner, for he commanded his arguments well, but Americans went for the actor. Mediocre as he was at his own craft, he still outshone the then president in the minds of his compatriots. Back then, I abandoned all hope for American politics, but I find myself commenting on it once again. To wit, democracy based on popularity contests such as American presidential debates is an abomination. Ochlocracy is its proper name. For the American electorate, this translates into mob rule.