A good starter for this new year, I think, would be for us to ask a few questions that should have come up in every college level modern history class, but far too often have not. Thinking on these questions can get us to the core of what current politics is all about.
Here we go.
-- King George III tried very hard to mollify the American colonists. He cut taxes to a mere fraction of what they were and then ordered actual enforcement of them. If he was so willing to compromise why did the American Revolution still happen?
-- Significant elements of the British parliament were working hard to represent the wishes of their constituents in the colonies. In a few more years they may well have seen the colonies getting all that they claimed to wish of their government at the time. So why did the revolution happen anyway and why do we all seem to like the long term results so much?
-- Why was it during the American Revolution that one third of the people who could not have commanded a majority of a popular vote were right, and now a third of the people who can't seem to command a majority of a popular vote are considered wrong?
And now to the heart of the core.
-- If the majority isn't always right, is it the right thing to let the majority always rule?
-- If a ruling majority is usually right, how many times does their being wrong outweigh the benefit of their rule?
-- If the majority is always considered right, what should those in the minority do? Should they always abandon their conviction, or are there times they shouldn't? If there are times they shouldn't, what are the potential consequences for both them and the majority when they take their stand?
-- Does unfettered majority rule inevitably lead to violent conflict with a minority?
-- How can that violence be avoided? Rule by those who happen to be right, whether they're the majority or not, or a government that is so greatly restrained from effecting its citizens that disagreements between majorities and minorities have few if any unavoidable consequences?
If you see where I'm leading you with these questions but don't agree with my conclusion, I welcome you to explain yourself in the comments section below. And I don't say that in any but the sincerest of ways. I have an open mind and relish challenges. Now if you agree with me about where these questions lead, welcome to the cause of liberty, and happy new year.
Here we go.
-- King George III tried very hard to mollify the American colonists. He cut taxes to a mere fraction of what they were and then ordered actual enforcement of them. If he was so willing to compromise why did the American Revolution still happen?
-- Significant elements of the British parliament were working hard to represent the wishes of their constituents in the colonies. In a few more years they may well have seen the colonies getting all that they claimed to wish of their government at the time. So why did the revolution happen anyway and why do we all seem to like the long term results so much?
-- Why was it during the American Revolution that one third of the people who could not have commanded a majority of a popular vote were right, and now a third of the people who can't seem to command a majority of a popular vote are considered wrong?
And now to the heart of the core.
-- If the majority isn't always right, is it the right thing to let the majority always rule?
-- If a ruling majority is usually right, how many times does their being wrong outweigh the benefit of their rule?
-- If the majority is always considered right, what should those in the minority do? Should they always abandon their conviction, or are there times they shouldn't? If there are times they shouldn't, what are the potential consequences for both them and the majority when they take their stand?
-- Does unfettered majority rule inevitably lead to violent conflict with a minority?
-- How can that violence be avoided? Rule by those who happen to be right, whether they're the majority or not, or a government that is so greatly restrained from effecting its citizens that disagreements between majorities and minorities have few if any unavoidable consequences?
If you see where I'm leading you with these questions but don't agree with my conclusion, I welcome you to explain yourself in the comments section below. And I don't say that in any but the sincerest of ways. I have an open mind and relish challenges. Now if you agree with me about where these questions lead, welcome to the cause of liberty, and happy new year.
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