I can't count the number of times I've heard one or another fundamentalist Christian rant on about how in America it's majority rule. People unclear on the concept are a real PITA.
Suddenly realized I wasn't exactly sure of the definition myself....Nicely explained under Democracy in Wikipedia: Majority rule is often listed as a characteristic of democracy. However, it is also possible for a minority to be oppressed by a "tyranny of the majority" in the absence of governmental or constitutional protections of individual or group rights. An essential part of an "ideal" representative democracy is competitive elections that are fair both substantively[16] and procedurally.[17] Furthermore, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are considered to be essential, so that citizens are adequately informed and able to vote according to their own best interests as they see them.[18][19] It has also been suggested that a basic feature of democracy is the capacity of individuals to participate freely and fully in the life of their society.[20] With its emphasis on notions of social contract and the collective will of the people, democracy can also be characterized as a form of political collectivism because it is defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.[1]
In America in particular, religion is one of those aspects of life in which the First Amendment protects us against a "tyranny of the majority," but many wingnuts seem not to understand that. To them, theirs is the majority religion, so everyone should be forced to conform to its dictates.
But America has embedded into its central document not only a list of "freedom to's" but also a list of "freedom from's." Without that list, which is quickly eroding today, we would soon be... will soon be... a theocracy, among other things.
I want to demand the wannabe theocrats exactly WHICH Christian church would become the national religion. Then I'd step back and watch the religious wars begin....
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I can't count the number of times I've heard one or another fundamentalist Christian rant on about how in America it's majority rule. People unclear on the concept are a real PITA.
Suddenly realized I wasn't exactly sure of the definition myself....Nicely explained under Democracy in Wikipedia: Majority rule is often listed as a characteristic of democracy. However, it is also possible for a minority to be oppressed by a "tyranny of the majority" in the absence of governmental or constitutional protections of individual or group rights. An essential part of an "ideal" representative democracy is competitive elections that are fair both substantively[16] and procedurally.[17] Furthermore, freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are considered to be essential, so that citizens are adequately informed and able to vote according to their own best interests as they see them.[18][19] It has also been suggested that a basic feature of democracy is the capacity of individuals to participate freely and fully in the life of their society.[20] With its emphasis on notions of social contract and the collective will of the people, democracy can also be characterized as a form of political collectivism because it is defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.[1]
Thanks, ellroon.
In America in particular, religion is one of those aspects of life in which the First Amendment protects us against a "tyranny of the majority," but many wingnuts seem not to understand that. To them, theirs is the majority religion, so everyone should be forced to conform to its dictates.
But America has embedded into its central document not only a list of "freedom to's" but also a list of "freedom from's." Without that list, which is quickly eroding today, we would soon be... will soon be... a theocracy, among other things.
[CAPTCHA text: "creper" ... Jepers crepers!]
Where'ja get those peepers?...
I want to demand the wannabe theocrats exactly WHICH Christian church would become the national religion. Then I'd step back and watch the religious wars begin....
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