Majority Rules, right?

Question

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17879317/site/newsweek/

Why are the 10% of this country getting their way?

coragryph, I don't want to impose my religious beliefs on anyone. I want those without them to stop imposing their fears on me.

I don't think I agree that the constitution's primary job is to protect the minority. No. To protect Citizens and establish government's place in human life. rule by the people. In the United States, democracy refers to a system of government that receives power from the majority and governs according to the will of the majority.

And tell me. If there is supposed to be seperation of church and state and no religion in state, then why are courts making decisions about religious matters?

Laughter, your first sentence cracked me up. Yeah, I may have some idea. Basically, I'm saying that I'm hearing and reading about many Americans having the right to religious freedoms taken away. What does it hurt that the 10 Commandments are in a courthouse? Our country was built on those beliefs. And I'm not telling anyone they have to believe in God, but the basic laws that the commandments represent are sound.

Answer 1

Well,you want to know why 10% of the country is getting its way! It sure seems that way,doesn't it? I think that the answer lays in the fact that our political systems that we refer to as Democracy...does give the common public representation in who they pick to be their voice in Government. But once they are in,that is where it stops! Why? Because another wonderful guarantee in the polital stew...gives people the right to collectively lobby and form "Special Interest Groups" and "Focus Groups" . These groups are quite active in political lobbying...and many hold the keys to electoral funding and candidate approval! But do they really represent the mainstream view-my answer is-probably not! But the polititions will go to them,because they feel that these groups have better insight on a given subject of policy than what the public...generally has knowledge of. Also in todays world,the political spectrum is such that a politition cannot easily get a concensus in their respective votership anymore. So too often they get their insight from "lobbies",and at election time they will aggressively seek their support and funding as well! Some examples of lobbies' are NRA(national rifle association),PETA,NAACP,Status of Women,Gay Rights Movements,and various Unions and Business Interests! I could go on and on....but that would take all day! The big problem today is that people are just not getting the vote out,and saying to this bunch that...enough is enough! Only about 50% of the votership even goes to the Polls anymore! There is a huge block of voter apathy out there...people who'll say-Why bother,my vote won't make a fig of a difference anyways! So now the politics of the country are virtually taken hostage by the Special Interest Groups! And then there is the Supreme Court,who'll decide ultimately the "constitutionality" of any bill that is passed. This all to often guarantees that you'll end up with a law...that you don't agree with,being rammed down your throat-simply because of the wording in the Constitution! This is often referred to as "Judge Made Laws". But you are saying to yourself...Hey,hold on-Isn't that what I elect Polititions to do? Unfortunately,that is too often the case with people today. They think that just because they voted their candidate in,that candidate will carry out their wishes...Wrong! Its the Bureaucracy making the rules after all,and not the Polititions! And any politition who doesn't tow the line,never seems to last very long. They will likely end up being smeared during a Election,from both sides-Lobbyists' and the Votership! I personally feel that there should be no lobbying or special interest groups,to effect any stance taken by a duly elected politition. But should represent what his votership is saying on a large scale. This is what he/she should represent,irregardless of his/her own conviction on the matter! But some would argue that,that is too Populist and too narrowly "focused". (ie) Here in Canada,we are having a huge debate over the Kyoto Accord. This Accord is set to target Greenhouse Gases and Emissions targets to pre 1990's levels! While at the same time-it will allow the 3rd world nations to increase there output of emissions. If I were to go out in public today,I can easily tell you that maybe 1 in 200 people even talk about this Accord-or its ramifications! But yet,our lefty polititions and lobbies will still insist that this is the #1 thing-on the minds of Canadians-and they'll still continue to push it. True!...Most Canadians are not well informed about Kyoto. But I'm certain if they did...they'de probably say NO WAY! Now if I can move around in public and figure this out-just by talking with regular everyday people...then why can't the polititions do the same? Simple answer to this is (Lobby Group & Special Interests)! So here is our real problem today. You now have a "minority" of people,trying to tell the "majority" of people-how to live,think,eat,and poop! Because our great elected officials-that we voted in...are too damned "gutless" to take the Bull by the Horns-and deal with it properly! I prefer "majority rules" myself...but you must be careful with that as well! Why? Because,while most people can be pretty good individually-they can be real cruel collectively. So you would need to have "Safeguards" in place to protect the "minority view" from any callous or cruel abuses by the majority opinion. You can ask any Jewish person who survived "Hitlers' Germany or Stalins' Russia about this one? Or to some extent,even Black Americans-who experienced the days of Segregation! So too often our polititions ignore us...because they feel they are doing the right thing-not the popular thing! Some think of it as "Leveling the Playing Field", or "Righting Past Wrongs". But this approach seldom works,and usually violates the majority view...even more! It often backlashes to make the situation even worse than what it started has>keep that in mind when someone says "you only got the job because your Black,Female,Gay etc. The resentment is now even larger than what it started out to be,and you can bet the polititions will definately not want to owe up to it! I hope this explains why the 10% of the country is getting its way? While the rest of us will have to like it-or lump it! Besides the society today is so "Cosmopolitan",it is extremely difficult-if not impossible...to get a majority "concensus" on anything!!! Hope this helps in answering your Question. Thx. theerrander!

Answer 2

Democracy is basically majority rule... yes.

But that's not the end of the story. We're not a country that is pure majority rule. We also have a Constitution that limits what that majority can do.

And under our Constitution, religion cannot be imposed by the govt. The govt cannot sponsor religion, nor promote one religion as more valid than any other. Whether majority or no.

So, to get your way and be able to impose your majority beliefs, you would first need to strip away the Constitutional protections that allow everyone to worship as they choose.

Answer 3

These polls are tricky. First off, they only survey a small percentage of the population. Next, depending on how the questions were phrased, it would be easy for people to give false answers because of confusion. Asking a bunch of 70-year-olds if they beieve in "Intelligent Design" might confuse them. More importantly, it depends on the setting the people were asked the questions.

If the pollsters were set up in a mall and asked people who were in groups, the respondants would most likely bow to peer pressure of the group and answer what they think their friends would want to hear. Come to think of it, who would the pollsters find in a mall at 2:30 on a Thursday? 75% married middle class- upper middle class women and 25% a cross-section of mall sales people who sell them stuff. If the pollsters were set up outside of a church on Sunday, do you think the number of Agnostics and Athiests would be real high?

In short question all survey results until you know how the figures were determined and only then if you think the survey was fair for everybody.

Answer 4

The Constitution exists to protect the rights of the minority.

Answer 5

The founders of this country made it so we would not have mob rule to protect the rights of the minority so no to the idea that majority rule's.

Answer 6

because people are sheeple people is why
and want demand what they wish for,what do you wish for?
our founders meant for us to not have a state religion, not exclude religion from our life's, they have it all wrong,
creationism should be taught along side the theory of evolution.christian values should be expressed by anyone in government that wishes to express those beliefs,

Answer 7

you probably mean the 1% -- the 1% that has most of the money and controls the media. who else did you think would control the country?

Answer 8

maybe when people get off there butts and vote,it will change. let your voice be heard . VOTE

Answer 9

What your leaders aren't acting christer enough for you?