America's fundamental change

Platapus · 08-16-08, 03:39 PM

James Madison wrote in Federalist number 10 about this issue of how much democracy is enough.

Alexis de Tocqueville also wrote about it in "Democracy in America" in 1835

This was not an easy concept to find a solution. The concept of representation in democracies has been studied almost from the very beginning.

Would this country be in a better position if every decision was in line with the Majority viewpoint? Tyranny of the Majority is a term used to describe that.

One of the advantages of a representative government is that the views of both the Majority and the Minority are represented.

Would we have abolished Slavery when we did if our representatives were mandated to follow the majority view?

How about Woman's suffrage?

Civil rights?

Sir Edmund Burke once wrote: A Representative owes his people both his industry and his judgement. He betrays them if he sacrifices either to their opinion.

If a whole bunch of smart dead guys could not come up with an answer, I sure can't.

08-16-08, 03:39 PM	#16
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,384 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	James Madison wrote in Federalist number 10 about this issue of how much democracy is enough. Alexis de Tocqueville also wrote about it in "Democracy in America" in 1835 This was not an easy concept to find a solution. The concept of representation in democracies has been studied almost from the very beginning. Would this country be in a better position if every decision was in line with the Majority viewpoint? Tyranny of the Majority is a term used to describe that. One of the advantages of a representative government is that the views of both the Majority and the Minority are represented. Would we have abolished Slavery when we did if our representatives were mandated to follow the majority view? How about Woman's suffrage? Civil rights? Sir Edmund Burke once wrote: A Representative owes his people both his industry and his judgement. He betrays them if he sacrifices either to their opinion. If a whole bunch of smart dead guys could not come up with an answer, I sure can't. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.