All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.
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What Jefferson called the greatest commentary on Government ever written, organized by topic!
Get a FREE Copy of "The Essential Federalist Papers
What Jefferson called the greatest commentary on Government ever written, organized by topic!
This makes perfect sense! What the hell is wrong with us?
In the Castroville student prayer situation, the minority wants to dominate the majority. The majority does not wish to force the minority like the minority wishes to force the majority. The majority is not depriving the minority from abstaining, from ignoring, or for just not listening. But that is not the desire of the minority. The minority wants the full aspect of atheism manifested in our lives every day in most every way, but to have a theistic thought occur must be totally debilitating. How grieveous are we being insulted and deprived? Can we not have our small event or would you prefer that we abstain, ignore, or not listen to your single manifestation of self worth?
Yes this makes sense. The majority is only right until it oppresses the minority and prevents the minority from getting the same rights guaranteed by our constitution.
Remember, just because some have misused equal access ( in some cases even to make it look bad !?!) issues, does not mean we should stop allowing people onto the playing field.
@Michael – The same rights, or dictatorial rights?
And there is no greater minority than the individual.
When it comes to economic rights, this Jeffersonian concept was seriously eroded 98 years ago, and it has been steadily eroding ever since. This country was founded as a republic with a limited government of specified enumerated rights; we have unfortunately turned it into a national government of general powers, a democracy, where 51% of the voters can take away the economic rights of 49% of the other voters.
It’s time to restore Constitutional government, with its specific limited powers and individual rights. “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!”
I say restore the Constitution and also take the advice of the anti-federalist to remove the various clauses that have been used to greatly expand the power of the federal government beyond what was intended. The anti-federalists had some other suggestions as well that we should take a serious look at.
Well said, Stephan.