Just because a majority of people hold a certain point of view, is it right to force people who are in the minority to conform to the majority view?
2006-12-16 17:06:27 · 6 answers · asked by Natsif Alphamith 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The people who regulate what other people can or cannot do are a minority. They just happen to be in power. So there is no such thing a tyrany of the majority.
2006-12-16 19:49:37 · answer #1 · answered by Rishi O 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is proper so long as there are no constitutional prohibitions. For example, a majority of Americans believe it should be illegal to steal from a store. Just because a small minority sees stealing as a sort of modern day Robin Hood adventure whereby wealth can be redistributed from Target and WalMart to the poor and oppressed does not mean that the majority is somehow acting in a tyranical manner.
2006-12-16 17:23:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freedom for minorities is the prinicapl upon which America was founded. I think many Americans have become upset with the way the religious right and their conservative allies feel the need to try and shove their opinions down everyone's throats. I guess that's why they moved back into the minority in the last election.
2006-12-16 17:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by truth be told 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's very simple: you create a mandate of universal human rights that applies to ALL people within the society, and make it through an ongoing democratic process that involves the community, then above and beyond that, you allow the society to shape itself, not through elected representatives, but through direct issue democracy, with the provision that no legislation can reverse the mandate of universal rights of the individual.
lather; rinse; repeat around the globe.
this is an actual example of developed anarchist political philosophy, and it's better than what we have now, which is just lip-service freedom.
2006-12-16 17:17:44 · answer #4 · answered by sleepingtao 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, if what the minority believes has nothing to do with being illegal or blatantly immoral. Every one should be free to choose their own view (with the aforementioned disclaimer)....wouldn't forcing someone to conform be tantamount to brainwashing?
2006-12-16 17:15:06 · answer #5 · answered by CrazyCatLady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as it doesn't infringe on the minorities' rights (ie freedom of speech), yes.
2006-12-16 17:08:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋