民主做為人類歷史大潮之所趨，應是合理的及可欲的發展。但經營及維繫民主所涉及的成本，必須被審慎檢討，否則，恐將扭曲民主的過程並損及民主之根基。本文試圖批判地考察當代代議民主體制的兩項主要的政治成本，即選舉競爭的成本和政治庸俗化的成本，並思索紓解改良之可能性。本文將指出，唯有人民本身的自覺和自省，以及對於不斷學習的責任的勇於承擔，才能有效因應代議民主體制已然浮現的病理現象。

Observers of representative democracy have long been suspicious of the cost in operating it. Without a critical analysis of this cost, we would not be certain whether what representative democracy provides really outweighs what it costs. It is a political calculus that matters significant­ly. This article focuses mainly on two political costs of democracy, i.e., cost of electoral competition and cost of the politics of vulgarization. This author believes that only in examining critically the follies of the modern democratic process can we truly find out what we should do to make reforms possible. In short, the hope to reform depends upon citi­zens' willingness to undertake the responsibilities of self-awareness and self-reflection.