Issue 40.15
We introduced the term “federalism” in the last article and we will spend a couple of weeks examining some of the specific concepts that were discussed in the Federalist Papers. Numbers 9 and 10 focused mostly on what James Madison called “factions” and how a pure democracy would favor them to the point of infringing on the rights of minorities, small groups and those that are not in the mainstream.
He defines a faction as “a number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.” This could apply to political groups or parties, members of a specific religions, corporations and their representatives, the military/industrial complex and many other groups or organizations. When the interests of a specific group are allowed to interfere with the rights or well-being of other citizens, it creates conflict and eventually, if not checked, the destruction of the union or republic.
He indicated that there are two ways to avoid the damage that factions can cause. The first is remove the causes that create factions. For example if a majority of people are of a specific religion and want to force all to be a part of their church, you can remove the problem by making it law that there be no state religion and that all religions will be tolerated and not interfered with unless their actions become destructive of other’s safety or rights. That is basically what our founders decided on.
The second idea he deemed impossible to create – making all people have the same opinions and interests. He felt that the diversity of thinking and action is what creates progress, success and life for any country. Thus it was important that we avoid pure democracy in order that the majority not subjugate or destroy the rights and freedoms of any minorities. This is where the specific reasons for a republic form of government was brought forth as a solution to the problem. Rather than have everyone vote on everything and majority rules (which has the drawbacks and dangers seen here) it was determined that a representative democratic process where each individual could vote on who would represent them in the much smaller and more manageable legislatures would be much better. This would make it much more difficult for special interests or even the majority to impose their will on the less fortunate, the less popular or the disadvantaged.
This approach is under attack as a number of people are calling for a direct democracy with voting on every issue through your home computer. Once we understand the reasons for republic, it is obvious that such an approach would not be in our best interest. In fact, any observation of the lack of education in these matters and indifference to the principles of freedom by the general public makes any approach of that type more dangerous and destructive of liberty and freedom than anything other than a tyranny by a malevolent dictator and would lead inevitably to the destruction of our country and our freedoms.
Lynn West is a thinker, a teacher and a patriot. You can reach him through email at forgingthefuture2021@gmail.com or through this newspaper. Liberty is a state of being which must be continually created. These articles can help all of us discover the ways we can contribute to that outcome.