Posted on 03/05/2012 3:33:36 PM PST by iowamark
Welcome to Week 3 “The Problem of Majority Tyranny”
Overview
America was governed under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1789. Unable to redress the problem of “majority tyranny,” the Articles were abandoned in favor of the Constitution, which created a “more perfect union.”
David J. Bobb is director of the Hillsdale College Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship, in Washington, D.C., and lecturer in politics. Dr. Bobb teaches courses in American politics and political theory to students participating in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program. Through teaching the enduring principles of the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the Kirby Center seeks to inspire citizens to live worthy of the blessings of liberty.
From 2001 to 2010 Dr. Bobb served as director of the Hillsdale College Charles R. and Kathleen K. Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, a civic education program for high school teachers. Formerly a research associate at the Boston-based Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, he has published reviews and articles in Perspectives on Political Science, the Claremont Review of Books, the American Spectator, and the Washington Times. He blogs regularly for BigGovernment.com, and his book on humility as a political virtue is under review for publication. He received his B.A. from Hillsdale College, summa cum laude, and his Ph.D. in political science from Boston College.
(Excerpt) Read more at hillsdale.edu ...
Week 2 lecture: Professor Thomas G. West: "The Declaration of Independence"
The readings and lecture are excellent this week as last!
Their lectures are always excellent. I will listen to them. I listened to their Constitution 101 and it was excellent also.
The tyranny by the minority has always been much more prevalent throughout history than tyranny of the majority—which always ends up in tyranny by the few.
Our individual liberty was to prevent all tyranny—from majorities and minorities. Right now we are ruled by minorities and no longer have freedom to say anything that differs from the Bible of Liberalism and Sodomy-—to force a New Worldview on our children where Evil becomes Good—to destroy Christian Ethics and the Bible and our Natural Rights from God.
Ideas matter—particularly the ideas you shape children with.
General Washington defused the Newburgh Crisis in part by promising his Officers he would petition Congress to cure the maladies of the Confederation. The Circular Letter was his promise kept. The most powerful and respected man in the Union set the groundwork for dumping the Articles of Confederation.
“That unless the States will suffer Congress to exercise those prerogatives, they are undoubtedly invested with by the Constitution, every thing must very rapidly tend to Anarchy and confusion, That it is indispensable to the happiness of the individual States, that there should be lodged somewhere, a Supreme Power to regulate and govern the general concerns of the Confederated Republic, without which the Union cannot be of long duration. That there must be a faithful and pointed compliance on the part of every State, with the late proposals and demands of Congress, or the most fatal consequences will ensue . . . “
Just checked it out, was afraid I’d missed the whole thing. Fortunately it looks like we can sign up at any time and catch up on the lectures. :) Planning to order the book, too. Thanks for posting.
BTW, Hillsdale and the college campus are beautiful.
Yes indeed
I recommend this course for everyone
If rule by the majority is tyrannical, how much moreso is rule by the minority?
do you have a ping list? please add me as I am registered & taking the class.
thank you!
d
Pingy ping
The separation of powers prevents the Executive and Legislative powers from both creating law and enforcing it.
Notice how the explosion of Authorities and Commissions at the state and federal level have been used to circumvent that last one.
Home study bookmark.
Good grief.
Read here from Federalist #10 as cited in the Hillsdale lecture.
keep posting your links, which work, because when I tried to copy the link to download it from another browser, it said only those with a link could watch it...
maybe you could ping us...
There should be no rule by any person or group. A commonly agree upon set of rules is applied equally to all, one reason why the symbol of equal justice is a blindfolded lady justice.
I appreciate this discussion. I confess, I did have a bit of trouble following the lecture as I listened to it last night. If I understand it now, the republican government was established to prevent the majority from running roughshod over the minority, (hence the Electoral college) and THAT was necessary because all men are fundamentally flawed and will often choose self-promotion over the good of the nation.
Yes? No?
Very well stated, And the beauty of a true Republic is that it also harness self-interest to the great good of the Republic. A win-win for everyone, no other system even comes close.
Spare me the patronizing snark. I meant the question academically. I am conversant with the Federalist Papers, thank you.
I have been an almost daily reader of FR since the Clinton years but have never run a ping list. Maybe I will try a Hillsdale ping list.
I don’t know if I can handle such responsibility! LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.