Potter in The Authenticity Hoax:
Democracy is based on the premise that reasonable people can disagree over issues of fundamental importance, from abortion and gay rights to the proper balance between freedom and security. When the mere fact that someone supports the other side becomes evidence that they have been brainwashed, then the truth is you no longer believe in democracy. (p. 185)
As with most of Potter writes, this is brilliant.
I don’t know if disbelief is the right word for it. When I read articles that imply or claim that opinion polls should mean something to democratic citizens or politicians, this is contrary to democracy too. So is the belief that the election percentage is the most important election issue. It isn’t important at all. I would prefer to call this a distortion of democracy – perhaps even a destruction of democracy.