...ENGL 120H Dr. Robert E. Fox October 6, 2015 The Fight for Democracy Is a “Tyranny of the Majority” happening right now in America, the way that John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville described it? Has our system of supposed equality turned against us to a point where the voice of the minority has been drowned out by that of the majority? Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman seems to disagree in his article, “Knowledge Isn’t Power”[1], in which he talks about how the argument for improving education is just a cover-up for talking about the real, underlying issue: that most of the power in the United States is being controlled by a small group of people with most of the money, and that this group is actively trying to keep all of the money to themselves through monopoly. This idea seems to go against that of Mill and Tocqueville’s; the power lies in the 1% of Americans, an extremely small minority. Furthermore, although most of the majority is able to freely speak their mind in various mediums, such as social media, online newsletters, and blogs, they are largely powerless to make much change in the political and economic sphere. Yet another example that a small group holds all of the power! The point to note here is that the current system of oppression of the poor by the rich was allowed to happen under the same circumstances that Mill and Tocqueville feared would lead to the tyranny of the masses. Although we as a nation had cast away the oppressive monarchy, we...
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...The Constitution was built by our founding fathers and was instilled in order to keep the democracy o the united states strong and running for centuries to come. One concern that was discussed in terms of this great new power that the US had become is that of tyranny and the abuse of such power, in not only the US but the world. In order to insure that our government did not turn into a dictatorship with the president being the one with all of the power, James Madison came up with a solution. James Madison was aware of the threat of what is called “tyranny of the majority” which means that the majority rules and the fear is that this would negatively affect individual rights. Therefore, Madison’s solution was a system, included in the Constitution, of Checks and balances and the separation of powers. This means that not one branch of the government holds all of the power but rather three do, and in regards to checks and balances each branch has some sort of pull over limiting another branch when necessary. The branches become a system that work together...
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...Tyranny and American Democracy Oppression is something dreaded by everyone. This universal fear was a much larger problem in the 1800’s than it is today. Tyranny was a fear that the Federalists, Anti-Federalists, and Alexis de Tocqueville had in common. The Federalists feared tyranny of the majority, or faction while the Anti-Federalists feared tyranny of the aristocracy. Tocqueville feared “soft despotism” but supported tyranny of the patriarchy. While the Federalist and the Anti-Federalists were the visionaries for America who tried to prevent different tyrannies, Tocqueville discusses the hypocrisies in America that the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists were against. The Federalists strongly believed that the newly founded republic needed a large, centralized government in order to discourage tyranny of the majority. Hamilton voices this opinion when he says “a firm Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection.” (Hamilton, 66, Federalist No. 9) This is because a large, centralized government uses the system of the checks and balances, which prevent domestic faction and revolt. The Federalists made it clear that they opposed a mob ruling and the minorities being denied their rights. The main danger the new republic faced, they argued, was the superior force of an “interested and overbearing majority.” (Madison, 72, No. 10) The Federalists solution on how to deal with majority faction...
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...AMERICA, TOCQUEVILLE IS DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF DEMOCRATIC TYRANNY. DISCUSS THE VALIDITY OF THIS CONTENTION. This essay is an exposition of the concerns raised by Tocqueville in his book Democracy in America particularly his greatest concern that is the possibility of democratic tyranny/tyranny of the majority arising if democracies are left unchecked. Tocqueville observes that the movement towards democracy and equality of conditions having progressed farthest in America was likely to spread to other parts of Europe as well as the rest of the world hence moving him to analyse democratic governments in order to ascertain the merits and demerits of such governments thereby providing substantial solutions to help counter the ills of democracy. These ills are inclusive of democratic tyranny which according to Adamova (2013: 1) is tyranny of the majority founded in public opinion. Tocqueville notes with profound insight that democratic tenets include equality of social conditions, liberty, and active participation of individuals in political matters amongst others however he laments the possibility of democracies becoming a tool of oppression of the minority emotionally amongst others if the majority are allowed to will absolute power and have unrestrained influence over government .It should be noted however that whilst Tocqueville was greatly concerned about the possibility of democratic tyranny he also touches on the subjects of class oppression and democratic or...
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...Term paper - Besides summary, the discussion part should further involve a comparison of social thinkers. Read and discuss more original and/or secondary readings. Give your own views, and try to conduct a dialogue with the existing views. In this thesis, I will give a summary of the works by Alexis de Tocqueville and Karl Marx, a discussion on their ideas as well as a comparison of the two thinkers. Alexis de Tocqueville is an aristocrat thinker From France that provides the most famous and influential views on democracy. In his work “Democracy in America”, he regards America as a land of liberty and democracy due to reasons like mores, geographical and historical advantages, but also provides a foresight on the future of democracy in America, and the threats to democracy and possible dangers of democracy. He believes the puritans were the one that contributed the most to American democracy, since they were all middle-class men with no salient differences when they first settled down in America. Also, they brought religion and political liberty to Amercia. Marx and Tocqueville holds different views on human nature. For Marx, he reflected on what it means to be truly human. Since he thinks that all species-beings are communal beings, he disaprroves things like religion, wage-labour and other forms of alienation that bring us far away from our communal nature and we must overcome them. For tocqueville, he emphazied a lot on dignity and liberty and he thinks that we are all...
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...political governance. The paper will be focusing on evaluating why too much democracy can be dangerous, and the precautions that should be undertaken to respond to the primary danger without falling to the other dangerous tendency. Democratic form of government accords people an added advantage as it incorporates their ideas into the system of governance. However, despite this advantage, foolish notions can seize it (Kishore 1-5). Any organization in which democracy rules i.e. Majority of members or citizens can pass rules and laws, which suit them, without considering other group members who must adapt to the laws and rules they enact. Judgment is crucial in distinguishing laws, which are reasonable and sensible, from those that are undemocratic, as they are unnecessary, intolerable, and unfair to the minority that oppose them thus impeaching their liberty. Therefore, formal procedure should be set in place to prevent implementation of oppressive laws, as judgment in such matters may fail due to use of majority rule i.e. democracy. Democratic forms of governance do not allow for an efficient functioning of the government....
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...utilitarianism (). He believed individual liberty is essential in evolving society as well as unleashing the truth (). Mills ideas stretched to governing every aspect of human liberty promoting change, innovation, and the development of societies. His greatest concern was that human beings will form into a “collective norm” where human innovation would not exist; thus, Mill created unique conditions in which his concepts of individual liberty may flourish. Although his notions became problematic he was still able to clarify the benefits that came with individual liberty. J.S. Mill clearly illustrated the significance of individual liberty, while interlinking the cultural effects on individual liberty. Mainly, J.S. Mill emphasis the abolishment of tyranny whether politically or socially while promoting a simplistic yet effective view on societal growth and individual liberty. Mill created a view that attempt to create utilitarianism in a society that seemed too governed by limited scope. John Stuart Mill solidified the concept on individual liberty by developing the harm principle which argued that individuals should be permitted to do as they wish as long as their actions do not harm others (). Moreover, J.S. Mill argues that individuals should be prohibited behaving in a manner that’s I harmful to society for example destroying public property is prohibited because individuals are not isolated from society (). By destroying public property one can harm others, as well as deprive the...
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...In such a large country, the individual may feel powerless to influence national politics. Many dissatisfied citizens want a more direct role in national legislation. While a national direct initiative process may be enticing, such an avenue of representation would lead to a tyranny of the majority and shift legislative power away from those with the appropriate knowledge and experience to make calculated decisions. Therefore, a national direct initiative process should not be created. Suppose a classroom is to decide when the test review session will be via direct initiative. Of the 100 students, Tuesday is the best day for 51, while the other 49 are unable to attend on Tuesday and would prefer Wednesday. The majority creates the initiative...
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...Although the idea that all men are created equal and possess certain inviolable rights was not a novel thought, the American Founders and the Declaration of Independence reinvigorated in the minds of the American colonists that tyrannical and unjust government that encroached on one’s unalienable rights was worthy to be cast out. In that sense, the Declaration of Independence generates two fundamental arguments: that all men are equally born with a set of unalienable rights, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” and that government essentially serves as the fences instituted by its people to protect these rights. However, compared to the sheer gravity of these statements, the Founders do not employ words of great magnitude to convince their audience; rather, they simply state that their arguments of equality and just governance to be simply “self-evident.” Consequently, the underlying principle of the Declaration remains the Founders’ recognition of the unbreakable relationship between the natural rights of man and the functions and requirements of a just government. The Declaration defines a just government as one that prioritizes the protection of its people and their rights. Additionally, a just government only exists through the subsequent earning of trust and consent of its citizens through becoming the reliable protector of their rights to Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness. Although all men are “by nature, all free, and independent” (Second Treatise Chapter...
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...enough to serve the new nation, but not create any form of tyranny? The first constitution, The Articles of Confederation, was an agreement among all thirteen states that was drafted on July 12, 1776 and completed its formal ratification in March of 1781. It allowed thirteen states to set up central organizations to oversee the domestic and foreign affairs, but many believed it was not working and needed to be changed. In the summer of 1787, the group of men, including James Madison, gathered at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia because they were concerned about the future of the nation. The Articles of Confederation was intended to discourage oppression, but failed to accomplish this because it lacked a chief executive, a court system, and the central government could not force a state pay taxes. James Madison was primarily concerned with how they framed the document to assure that tyranny did not have a chance to resurface. They drafted the new constitution in hopes that it would keep the country from falling apart. James Madison and his fellow delegates framed the constitution to protect the country from tyranny by any one individual, group of individuals, branch, or level of government from gaining too much power by including the areas of Federalism, separation of powers, a system of checks and balances, and big states versus small states. Federalism was a major component in guarding against tyranny in the Constitution. James Madison described it as a “compound...
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...The checks and balance system was designed primarily to address what the farmers saw as a possible dilemma when dealing with majority rule and still protecting the minority interest at the same time. The farmers understood the nature of human self-interest and in so doing so also understood that the wealthy had certain advantages over those how where less fortunate (poorer). They further, understood that in their eyes the one role of government was to protect private property rights and not redistributions of lands into common ownership. This was what had happened under the Articles of Confederation; it should be remembered events like the Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts which still haunted many of the elites of the time. Thwarting tyranny and “devising a government that...
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...the constitution guard against tyranny? Why would Peter Kropotkin think that “America is just the country that how all the written guarantees in the world for freedom are no protection against tyranny and oppression of the worst kind. There the politician has come to be looked upon as the very scum of society”. Tyranny is a cruel and oppressive government ruled by one person. The Constitution was written in September of 1787 in Philadelphia. There have been many tyrants in history such as Gelon, Hiero I, Dionysius. The United States Constitution has ways to guard against tyranny such as Checks and Balances and Small and Large state. The Constitution guards against tyranny by using Checks and Balances. Some of the ways the United...
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...Tyranny is harsh, cruel and unfair power in the hands of one individual or a small group of people, giving them the opportunity to have power over everyone else. It is also defined as the accumulation of too much power or control in the same hands. There are many kinds of tyranny, according to American Statesman, Founding Father, and former President of the United States, James Madison. There is tyranny of a supreme ruler who takes all power to his/herself. There is also tyranny of a few, which is when several generals or religious leaders seize control. There can also be tyranny of the many, which is when the majority denies to a minority. Although tyranny was a pretty huge issue in the government, the Constitution helped guard against tyranny in many ways....
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...Raven Williams 10/2/2012 History of Political Thoughts TR 1:00pm Dr. Andrew Douglas Plato’s Plea Against Democracy Democracy is defined as a government by the people that exercise their rights through the elected officials and ruled by the majority. The written dialogues of Socrates by Plato take into account that democracy is actually inefficient and undermines the true values of their citizens. Plato’s best known and comprehensive work is the Republic. He criticized democracy as an inadequate form of government because it caused corruption of people through public opinions and created rulers whose main concern it to the ability to influence its citizen rather than being knowledgeable of proper rulership. Therefore, this government is capable of molding the perception and ideas of the citizens. According to Plato, democratic governance is a poor form of government due to the focus on self-interest rather than the welfare of society as a whole. In this essay, Plato’s background, views on politics will be presented first; then, his in-depth opinion of democracy and what he believed to be an ideal society. Plato wrote, in his autobiography Seventh Letter, that he could not identify himself with any political parties because they were heavily engage in corrupted activities. However, it was due to the execution of Socrates that provided Plato with the assurance that the existing governments were fallacious without any possible reparation. He perceived politics as unhealthy and...
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...the second time. “Freedom is not free; you have to pay for it.” Anonymous In May 2005, over 2 million Ethiopians came out in full force to demand change Imagine the power all these people wield collectively when they decide to act together for radical change, dignity and freedom Nonviolent struggle is a smart option for Ethiopians to end tyranny As ordinary Egyptians have erupted in jubilant euphoria at Tahrir Square and on the streets of Egypt after the fall of the three-decade long dictator Hosni Mubarak, Ethiopians in and outside of the country have been keenly watching the wind of change from North Africa. We have witnessed history unfolding once again. When people are determined to be free, nothing can stop them. After an epic struggle against him, Mubarak had no choice but to surrender. The world is a better place with the fall of one more dictator. What a beautiful moment to celebrate and watch! The momentous events in Egypt and Tunisia are testimony to the power of nonviolent struggle. When people are united and speak in one voice, nothing can stop them. No guns and tanks have stopped the peaceful revolutions that have ended tyranny and ushered in liberation to ordinary people in many countries across the world. Ethiopians also know what revolutions are like. But they have never tasted the sweetness of freedom and smelt the aroma of true liberation. The new revolution should be different from the tragic upheavals that have turned our country into a land of slaves brutalized...
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