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-   -   Majority rule. (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=16221)

regular.joe 12-20-2007 06:49 AM

Majority rule.
 
Lets pretend for a minute that our system of electing the president in the U.S. is not the electoral college.

If less then 50 percent of eligible voters vote. Then the president is really elected by a majority of the minority.

It has been my observation that the majority rarely rules, ever, in any system.

Ibby 12-20-2007 08:09 AM

Fuck majority rule.

Oh wait, minority rule is worse. Fuck that too.

In fact, fuck 'rule' altogether.
There we go.

regular.joe 12-20-2007 08:32 AM

Ibram, you're coming across a little angry this morning. :rolleyes:

I've been mulling a lot on things I've been reading on here, and elsewhere. I think we have one of the best deals going, here in the states, having been a few other places. Europe, the middle east, and south of the border.

I don't think that 90 to 98 % of laws are made for the majority of our population. For instance, in most if not all countries it is illegal to commit murder. The majority of the population does not commit murder. In thinking about this it struck me that our laws and elected officials are not made by the majority either. This looks like me, to be the norm around the world, historically as well.

Doesn't have much to do with anything important. Just thinking "out loud" a little today.

ZenGum 12-20-2007 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regular.joe (Post 418011)
I

I don't think that 90 to 98 % of laws are made for the majority of our population. For instance, in most if not all countries it is illegal to commit murder. The majority of the population does not commit murder.

But surely the majority of the population don't want to be murdered. This law is "for" them.

Meh, there must be plenty of other examples that better illustrate your point. Find some obscure law controlling the import of some agricultural product - thus protecting a tiny number of farmers at the expense of the majority of consumers.

TheMercenary 12-20-2007 11:56 AM

Even with all it's faults the elimination of the electoral college would be a bad thing for rural states.

regular.joe 12-20-2007 12:43 PM

I'm not lobbying for the elimination of the electoral college. I don' think the average joe really knows how the president is elected in our country.

Which wasn't my point either. I'm not sure I had a point, well maybe that the majority rarely is the push behind any government action. Anywhere.

smoothmoniker 12-20-2007 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regular.joe (Post 418112)
I'm not lobbying for the elimination of the electoral college. I don' think the average joe really knows how the president is elected in our country.

I think that was probably true pre-2000, before Florida and the hanging chads. I don't think it's true today. I bet I could head down to the mall and get a moderately accurate explanation of the electoral college system from 7 out of 10 random people.

classicman 12-20-2007 02:34 PM

lol - I'll take that bet, smoothmoniker. They may have known for a little while, but not too much anymore. They are more interested in the happenings of Britney and Paris and the like.

glatt 12-20-2007 02:40 PM

Well, sure. "They" are always dumb. Those others. Not like us. We're the smart ones.

classicman 12-20-2007 02:46 PM

"The Cellar: We know you are, but what are we?"

PhuctIfiNo 12-20-2007 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt (Post 418133)
We're the smart ones.

Who is we?

What makes we the smart ones?

glatt 12-20-2007 04:41 PM

Don't worry, you're one of us. Not one of them.

PhuctIfiNo 12-20-2007 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt (Post 418162)
you're one of us.

:biggrin: Ok, as long as I'm included, no objection.

smoothmoniker 12-20-2007 05:02 PM

Any conversation about politics that starts with the presumption of the stupidity of the masses will inevitably lead to some very scary conclusions. After all, if the wisdom of the few exceeds the wisdom of the many, then don't we few wise ones have an obligation to enact our wise plans, for the benefit of those foolish masses?

Griff 12-20-2007 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothmoniker (Post 418174)
...our wise plans,

Nicely put.


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