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Originally Posted by philanderer
I’d like to remind everyone that one of our founding fathers once said that the masses were on the whole dim witted and unfit to run the country, a beast to be controlled. So the next time our dear leader, Mr. Bush, makes a statement on whatever he would like quoting majority support by the American “mass” remember that years ago slavery was supported by the mass; that years ago women’s suffrage was considered by the mass to be ludicrous. Just because it is accepted by the mass does not mean that it is correct. The mass will see its faults eventually, because after all hindsight is 20/20 but in the meantime don’t quote me numbers, percentages, condemnations and resolutions that must be fact because the masses say they are.
In 20 years we could look back, and think to ourselves how could we not grant gay men and women their right to marry, the constitution says equal rights to all right. Is this not how we look back now and think of suffrage and slavery.
There is a reason we are not a democracy. That’s right not a democracy. We are a Democratic Republic…and if you don’t know the difference…well dammit that’s what Hamilton was saying.
Look, learn, and remember what we are. What the mob is, what the government is and what popular opinion is, simply opinion. Time and discussion will define truths and maybe we will be lucky enough to see them and understand them before we pass on.
Too political? Thought maybe it was, but I didn't want to post it right next to my other thread
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This does not really strike me as political... It strikes me as history... though you have flaws in your reasoning...
1. Slavery was NEVER supported by the MASSES... It was supported by the few land owning rich men in the south who made their money off of slavery by making slaves take care of their various plantations... and that was only maybe 10% of the south... a majority of the south didnt even have slaves.. The north of course was primarily competly against slavery and that is why abolistionist movements start in the north.
But the most educated people (those rich white men) simply had the most power because: one they where rich, and two they where the only people educated enough to make educated decisions!.. duh.. Those men who owned slaves in the south where practicaly among the few in the south that could even READ at that time period anyway.
2. Woman sufferage as well wasnt exactly a decision made by mass's... It was simply the way things where back then due to uneducated people... As you will notice... even then! Women who through one way or anouther (while having no rights) still did very well for themselves generaly... most of the women back then where a hell of a lot tougher to in my opinion.. they standard of living then demanded it.
3. Also Alexander Hamilton did not discount the public's opinion he simple knew that FOR THAT TIME PERIOD most of the general public was UNEDUCATED and could not thus make realistic helpfull decisions on their own... that is why rich land owning men had such control over the time period! They where the only ones who knew how because those men where the only people actualy learned enough to write the constitution along with the bill of rights and the declaration of independence.
4. Yes it is a democratic republic as you stated, this is NOT "a method of controling the beast". It is the representation of the people... where people democraticaly vote for who they want to represent them.