Government for the people... despite the people

Came across an article from July 7, 2003 edition of Newsweek magazine. The title is 'Dawnism in California,' the author is George F. Will.

I found it interesting because, alhtough the article is about the state of California, and the choices that need to be made, the last paragraph reads:

"When Ataturk was creating modern Turkey, going against the grain of society, pulling a reluctant people toward modernity, his saying was: 'Government for the people - despite the people.' Californians need someone similar, someone who will make difficult choices of the sort Davis has ducked and who will tell people they cannot casually slough off responsibility for the electoral choices they make. Californians need an Ataturk. But they probably would recall him."