Replies

"The first principle of republicanism is that the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law of every society of individuals of equal rights; to consider the will of the society enounced by the majority of a single vote as sacred as if unanimous is the first of all lessons in importance, yet the last which is thoroughly learnt. This law once disregarded, no other remains but that of force, which ends necessarily in military despotism." --Thomas Jefferson

Tom seems to be talking about a representative's vote being like that of unanimous consent given to them to cast as it stems from society's will. (No problem with that, a good check against mob-ocracy). Further, that this is difficult for folks to 'learnt' and in it's absence, can lead to a police state. (A forward thinking guy).

Given that drugs are so prevelant while remaining illegal, one has to question whether one's representatives are truly voting 'society's will'. I'm not sure what the holdup is, but it would be nice if our elected representatives might someday cast votes with an eye for what is rather than what they might 'wish' to be. This disconnect may be the source for the abuses that the average citizen endures when dealing with the State, whether at a checkpoint or sleeping soundly in bed only to be awakened by a flash grenade as some imformant got an address wrong, or a neighbor with a beef likes to dial 911.

Seems Thomas J's quote still holds true.

Your Jefferson quote at #56 ("The first principle of republicanism is that the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law of every society of individuals of equal rights;) was interesting. I was wondering what your take on it might be.