Should the common people be trusted with government?

Question

I have a debate tomorrow and I have to debate from Thomas Jefferson's point of view, and he believed that people SHOULD be trusted with the government. (will be debating against Alexander Hamilton's point of view)

Examples I have so far
1. Alien and Sedition-What happens when the president, and not the people, is in charge. Infringed on freedom of speech and press.

2. Napoleon Dynamite-Since the people were in charge of govt (voting), they made the right choice and voted for Pedro.

Anyone have other examples?

Answer 1

To prepare for this debate, read summaries of Jeffersons view but also read Hamilton's view. Be prepared to argue against statements the other side will make and show their logical inconsistencies and moral defects. Appeal to the emotions of your audience and give them reason to be indignant of the Hamiltononian position.

Just a few quick tips. No examples. Read.

Answer 2

The people have given up their value in exchange for comfort which they purchase by selling their lives to Corporations, which turn those lives into profitable 'resources'. The Corporation cannot die unless the government kills it. People only get to live one life. Jefferson and the other forefathers tried to prevent Corporations that would be powerful enough to buy all three branches of government like we have now. The Bill of Rights was supposed to protect individual people from the bullies and mobs of groupthink which they knew could easily be influenced by powerful entities like corporations. The Declaration of Independence came about because a corporation had taken over the King and Parliament, destroying representation for the people.
When dollars replace people as the valuable resource, and money can be printed at will by the Federal Reserve, people become only as valuable as the paper they produce. The country becomes a System of Production rather than a community.

If you want change, keep it in your pocket. Your dollar is your vote and the machines don't count.

Answer 3

Jefferson believed people had to be educated and agrarian to be trusted with govt., btw.

Here's an example - the ruling elite, the representatives of the top 1%, the most advantaged people on the face of the earth - have destroyed America's economy, reputation, set back human rights world wide, are destroying the world's environment by protecting big fossil fuel, have destroyed Iraq, have plunged more Americans into poverty.

On the other hand, hard to believe, but 6 years ago, we were ending an administration made up of many people who were born poor or working class and got access to power through education. In those days, the economy boomed, america fought to free kosovo and the people their still celebrate clinton's visits as a national holiday, americans were respected worldwide, we were working in a progressive direction on health care coverage, gay rights, children's rights (except for not funding maternity leaves of several years' length), and medicine. Oh, yeah, and the president and his staff even cared about terrorism...

Another example is the ruling elite versus the common people in Cuba. They went from the dire poverty of all caribbean islands, with the added pleasure of the mob hanging out there, to the richest country in the caribbean with the best health care in latin america! And a human right's records that easily stands up to the death squads we trained and funded in El Salvador, Guatemala, etc etc etc
so here it's the people against two elites - the cuban elites and then the world's elite, the us

Answer 4

DeToqueville discussed the tyranny of the masses in his work. The problem with allowing the "common people" to govern is that many of them can't even raise their own kids properly, and so they should be trusted governing a nation?
"In towns it is impossible to prevent men from assembling, getting excited together and forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the inhabitants as members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and often carry their desires into execution without intermediaries."

Also, back then, if you didn't own property, you weren't allowed to vote.

I really wonder what Jefferson would think if he were here today, about how our government is being heavily influenced by lobbyists and the religious extremists.

Answer 5

I think it needs to be simplified. We have created so many steps in the process of everything that nothing gets done. I think the president should have more control however not president like George W. Maybe that's why the president doesn't have total control.. ok so I guess that part is good, lol.

Answer 6

why not?

its obvious that the crooked theiving pedophiles we have in office now cant be trusted with government, so why not put joe the shade tree mechanic in office? he would do a heck of a lot better job that the thieving bastages we have in there now.

Answer 7

Only the fine Republican party that protects us from terrorists and the Democrats who are dying to raise taxes.

Answer 8

for sure!!!
this is a republic.
Jefferson is a favorite of mine.
we have strayed far from the federalist point of view.
in laws and actions. sorry i can't be specific.
didn't he do much of the writing of our constitution?

Answer 9

The government exists BECAUSE of the people. They are the ones who give their consent.

Answer 10

How can we? They don't even tell us what's really going on so we couldn't make a truly informed decision.