David Seedhouse highlights the alarming irrelevance of inclusive democracy in the governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, asking why decision-makers so readily ignored centuries of hard-won civil freedoms? Why were we so easily controlled and why were our controllers so willing to do it? Before suggesting that this flawed governmental response is the perfect argument for an extensive, participatory democracy.

Professor of Deliberative Practice, Aston University, UK, Owner, Values Exchange.

INTRODUCTION
SEARCHING FOR BALANCE
IMBALANCED DUALITIES
CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY
THE PSYCHOLOGY
GUIDED BY THE SCIENCE?
STEPS TOWARDS A WIDER FOCUS
PUZZLING CHARTS
THE SWEDISH EXAMPLE
ANIMALS
THE ETHICS
THE CASE FOR DEMOCRACY
CONCLUSION
POSTSCRIPT