Posted on 01/13/2017 2:09:50 PM PST by Jim Robinson
In Federalist #10, Madison explained how our government, formed as a republic, was superior to pure democracy in that it prevented tyranny by a majority. In his article, Madison explained how the founding fathers considered the fallibility of human nature, but prized liberty above all. In fact, in this article, Madison also addressed the reality that “[e]nlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” Madison postulated that by giving a voice to more minority groups, they would be “extend[ing] the sphere” of influence and it would be less likely that “a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens“
Madison and the Founders knew that pure democracy paired with human nature would lead to mob rule and ultimately to tyranny (that which they feared most). They were able to implement features of government that would use man’s basic human nature to accomplish good things. For example, a free enterprise system in which man’s proclivity toward greed causes him to provide products and services that other people want, need, and desire. However, the one thing the Founders could not conceive of is the level of apathy among the people which has led to many issues where we experience tyranny of the minority!
The Founders thought the concept of popular sovereignty would prevail. That is, that the rule of law would have to pass muster with consent of the governed. They embedded safeguards against “mob rule”, but still expected the “popular” will of the people to set the agenda. They constructed many protections to keep the majority from riding rough shod over the minority. However, they never conceived that the majority might just hand the agenda over to them.
Think especially about the homosexual agenda and the war on Christianity (for example, Christmas).
In each of these cases, there are a very few people in the country who are controlling the environment for the rest of us. At least 98.3% of Americans are not homosexual (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/gay-population-us-estimate_n_846348.html) and over 82% of Americans are ‘religious’ and of them, 95% belong to a “Christian” faith. The next largest religious group is the Jewish faith at 1.6% of Americans (http://www.gallup.com/poll/151760/christianity-remains-dominant-religion-united-states.aspx).
Yet, the agenda in this country favors homosexuals (less than 1.7%), we cannot profile terrorists because it may upset Muslims (0.5%), and we can’t say “Merry Christmas” or erect nativity scenes even though 92% of us believe in God (http://www.gallup.com/poll/147887/Americans-Continue-Believe-God.aspx) and 95% of us celebrate Christmas.
The insanity must end! If we are to save this country, we have to reverse this trend.
Minorities may have rights but the majority must rule.
Interesting post Jim.
Thoughtful post.
Jews rarely tell pollsters they’re Jews though. History and all that.
With that subject in mind, here is a letter I send every December on the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling.
The Bill of Rights and Gay Marriage
The 2015 gay marriage ruling completes a rewrite of the First Amendment. It says and used to mean, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press….” In contrast the gay marriage ruling illustrates how far this country has departed from first principles.
We are familiar with the term “speech or expression’, which seems an innocuous expansion. However, “expression” enables a nearly unbounded multi-billion dollar pornography industry.
Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion on gay marriage states, “The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to advocate and teach the principles that are so fulfilling and central to their lives and faith”. Such language severely restricts religious freedom by happening to exclude “free exercise thereof”.
This restriction means not exercising religious beliefs in business and personal lives even though the Constitution makes no distinction between individuals, organizations, and churches. The interpretation marginalizes tens of millions of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim believers for whom homosexual behaviors separate people from the love relationship God desires with humanity. For them subsequent scriptural reasoning applied to life must derive from that basic understanding.
Now we have a country where a woman can choose to express herself in the adult film industry, but cannot own a bakery and choose to exercise her religious convictions by refusing to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple.
The Formal End to Judeo-Christian America
http://townhall.com/columnists/dennisprager/2015/06/30/the-formal-end-to-judeochristian-america-n2018986/page/full
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES GAY MARRIAGE
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
Bar the doors?
http://www.worldmag.com/2015/10/bar_the_doors
6/27/15 Wayne Cordeiro
https://www.facebook.com/pastorwaynecordeiro?fref=nf·;
A Minority of voters picked H->! .
This is one of my major frustrations with liberal agenda and its control of most of our media.
No one should be deprived of civil rights—but when the complaints of 2 percent of the population are given a 50 decibel microphone and the 98 percent are a kid-sized only given a tiny megaphone, the liberty of all is diminished!
oops.
Kid sized megaphone malfunction!
I agree. It is maddening and increased greatly during Obama’s terms in office.
I have been saying for years now on FR, that what we have here is the tyranny of the minority. In one week’s time we will have a whole lot less of it, but it won’t be gone overnight. We must, all of us, fight tooth and nail against this takeover of our country by the minority(ies). Majority rule must persist within the parameters of our Constitution, or another Civil War will break out to make sure our Republic still stands.
I think the problem is still tyranny of the majority - a majority all too willing to give up the rights and protections of the constitution. The tyranny is perhaps more negligent than militant, but tyranny nonetheless.
Unfortunately, a majority of people are stupid and gullible. Most would not survive in the forrest and would quickly fall prey to predators, starvation and the elements. Fathers are not handing down survival wisdom to their sons and critical thinking, skepticism and wariness are now considered bad traits.
We were given a Republic “...if we can keep it”, and I think we have failed to keep it.
Sorry to be so negative, but that’s the way I feel. Trump is great - but are there enough people left who can appreciate what is great about him?
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