- Capitalism and Alternatives -
C'mere and give me a hug Barry!
Posted by: David ( USA ) on December 23, 1999 at 10:37:07:
In Reply to: You got a nasty debating style, David posted by Stoller on December 22, 1999 at 20:49:38:
Alright Barry, in the interest of civilized debate, I will cease my accusations henceforth.
I respectfully withdraw any allegations made.
Now, for some useful discussion...Essentially, my qualms with majoritarianism is that it gives power to the mob mentality. There are no shortages of the extremes that such a doctrine can be taken to. If it were majority rule in the south and suddenly a predominantly white town decided that they wanted to reinstitute slavery, so long as the majority (whites) wanted it, it would be okay.
There are many ethical problems associated with majority rule. Namely that people do have the power to vote away the rights of others. That is unacceptable. If one day the majority of Americans decided that they had had enough of those damn liberals handing out pamphlets and passed a series of laws restricting their freedom of speech, you can be sure that I would fight against it in all capacities. Like Voltaire said "Though my very essence may abhor what you have to say, I will defend with my life your right to say it." Constitutionally limited democracy I have no problem with, so long as the constitution is ethical.
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