Thread: Zarathustra's Signature

Here it is.

If our fathers, in 1776, had acknowledged the principle that a majority had the right to rule the minority, we should never have become a nation; for they were in a small minority, as compared with those who claimed the right to rule over them.
- Lysander Spooner

I think his argument against a majority rule government based on the events of 1776 is a gross misrepresentation of the reasons for revolution. Does anyone actually agree with this guy's quote?

Originally Posted by Sparta

Here it is.



I think his argument against a majority rule government based on the events of 1776 is a gross misrepresentation of the reasons for revolution. Does anyone actually agree with this guy's quote?

Well, its difficult to say that the founding fathers would have disagreed with majority rule, after all, they decided to have a democracy.

I guess they could have chosen to have a kingdom, or a theocracy. But they chose democracy. Majority rule.

Originally Posted by Sparta

Here it is.



I think his argument against a majority rule government based on the events of 1776 is a gross misrepresentation of the reasons for revolution. Does anyone actually agree with this guy's quote?

Why is it? Only 40% of the colonists supported the revolution. The other 40% were Royalists.

Originally Posted by Latherty

Well, its difficult to say that the founding fathers would have disagreed with majority rule, after all, they decided to have a democracy.

I guess they could have chosen to have a kingdom, or a theocracy. But they chose democracy. Majority rule.

Wrong... Read the Federalist Papers and then you'll know what they thought of democracy and mob-rule.

Originally Posted by Latherty

Well, its difficult to say that the founding fathers would have disagreed with majority rule, after all, they decided to have a democracy.

I guess they could have chosen to have a kingdom, or a theocracy. But they chose democracy. Majority rule.

Actually they chose a constitutional republic. Not majority rule.

Originally Posted by Defensor

Actually they chose a constitutional republic. Not majority rule.

True. The system of government that they created is often called a government of laws, not men.

The idea being that the passions of the moment, even those held by the minority do not trump the laws (supposedly) arrived at after cool deliberation.

The founding fathers set up a minority rule -- white landowning males over 30.

Originally Posted by Conservationist

The founding fathers set up a minority rule -- white landowning males over 30.

Way to quote every single middle school history text book.