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Hillsdale' Constitution 101: "The Problem of Majority Tyranny"
Hillsdale College ^ | Feb. 2012 | David J. Bobb

Posted on 03/05/2012 3:33:36 PM PST by iowamark

Welcome to Week 3 “The Problem of Majority Tyranny”

Overview

America was governed under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1789. Unable to redress the problem of “majority tyranny,” the Articles were abandoned in favor of the Constitution, which created a “more perfect union.”

David J. Bobb is director of the Hillsdale College Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship, in Washington, D.C., and lecturer in politics. Dr. Bobb teaches courses in American politics and political theory to students participating in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program. Through teaching the enduring principles of the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the Kirby Center seeks to inspire citizens to live worthy of the blessings of liberty.

From 2001 to 2010 Dr. Bobb served as director of the Hillsdale College Charles R. and Kathleen K. Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence, a civic education program for high school teachers. Formerly a research associate at the Boston-based Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, he has published reviews and articles in Perspectives on Political Science, the Claremont Review of Books, the American Spectator, and the Washington Times. He blogs regularly for BigGovernment.com, and his book on humility as a political virtue is under review for publication. He received his B.A. from Hillsdale College, summa cum laude, and his Ph.D. in political science from Boston College.

(Excerpt) Read more at hillsdale.edu ...


TOPICS: Education; History; Religion
KEYWORDS: constitution; constitution101; hillsdale
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Constitution 101 Week 3 lecture: "The Problem of Majority Tyranny"

Week 2 lecture: Professor Thomas G. West: "The Declaration of Independence"

1 posted on 03/05/2012 3:33:40 PM PST by iowamark
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The readings and lecture are excellent this week as last!


2 posted on 03/05/2012 3:35:58 PM PST by iowamark (The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves)
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To: iowamark

Their lectures are always excellent. I will listen to them. I listened to their Constitution 101 and it was excellent also.

The tyranny by the minority has always been much more prevalent throughout history than tyranny of the majority—which always ends up in tyranny by the few.

Our individual liberty was to prevent all tyranny—from majorities and minorities. Right now we are ruled by minorities and no longer have freedom to say anything that differs from the Bible of Liberalism and Sodomy-—to force a New Worldview on our children where Evil becomes Good—to destroy Christian Ethics and the Bible and our Natural Rights from God.

Ideas matter—particularly the ideas you shape children with.


3 posted on 03/05/2012 3:43:41 PM PST by savagesusie (Right Reason According to Nature = Just Law)
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To: iowamark
Yes, they are.

General Washington defused the Newburgh Crisis in part by promising his Officers he would petition Congress to cure the maladies of the Confederation. The Circular Letter was his promise kept. The most powerful and respected man in the Union set the groundwork for dumping the Articles of Confederation.

“That unless the States will suffer Congress to exercise those prerogatives, they are undoubtedly invested with by the Constitution, every thing must very rapidly tend to Anarchy and confusion, That it is indispensable to the happiness of the individual States, that there should be lodged somewhere, a Supreme Power to regulate and govern the general concerns of the Confederated Republic, without which the Union cannot be of long duration. That there must be a faithful and pointed compliance on the part of every State, with the late proposals and demands of Congress, or the most fatal consequences will ensue . . . “

4 posted on 03/05/2012 3:53:25 PM PST by Jacquerie (No court will save us from ourselves.)
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To: iowamark

Just checked it out, was afraid I’d missed the whole thing. Fortunately it looks like we can sign up at any time and catch up on the lectures. :) Planning to order the book, too. Thanks for posting.

BTW, Hillsdale and the college campus are beautiful.


5 posted on 03/05/2012 3:57:19 PM PST by madison10
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To: iowamark

Yes indeed

I recommend this course for everyone


6 posted on 03/05/2012 3:57:22 PM PST by Steve Newton (And the Wolves will learn what we have shown before-We love our sheep we dogs of war. Vaughn)
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To: iowamark
the problem of “majority tyranny,”

If rule by the majority is tyrannical, how much moreso is rule by the minority?

7 posted on 03/05/2012 4:22:32 PM PST by IronJack (=)
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To: iowamark

do you have a ping list? please add me as I am registered & taking the class.

thank you!

d


8 posted on 03/05/2012 4:24:18 PM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell God how big your storm is... tell your storm how BIG your God is!)
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To: Jemian; prairiebreeze

Pingy ping


9 posted on 03/05/2012 4:25:53 PM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell God how big your storm is... tell your storm how BIG your God is!)
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To: iowamark
Great stuff. I was struck by the fundamental truths behind the founding. Concepts such as: All men are flawed. This applies to legislators as well.

The separation of powers prevents the Executive and Legislative powers from both creating law and enforcing it.

Notice how the explosion of Authorities and Commissions at the state and federal level have been used to circumvent that last one.

10 posted on 03/05/2012 4:39:56 PM PST by Makana
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To: iowamark

Home study bookmark.


11 posted on 03/05/2012 4:49:15 PM PST by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: IronJack
If rule by the majority is tyrannical, how much moreso is rule by the minority?

Good grief.

Read here from Federalist #10 as cited in the Hillsdale lecture.

12 posted on 03/05/2012 4:56:26 PM PST by Jacquerie (No court will save us from ourselves.)
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To: iowamark

keep posting your links, which work, because when I tried to copy the link to download it from another browser, it said only those with a link could watch it...

maybe you could ping us...


13 posted on 03/05/2012 4:59:17 PM PST by LadyDoc
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To: IronJack

There should be no rule by any person or group. A commonly agree upon set of rules is applied equally to all, one reason why the symbol of equal justice is a blindfolded lady justice.


14 posted on 03/06/2012 4:48:16 AM PST by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
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To: 2001convSVT

I appreciate this discussion. I confess, I did have a bit of trouble following the lecture as I listened to it last night. If I understand it now, the republican government was established to prevent the majority from running roughshod over the minority, (hence the Electoral college) and THAT was necessary because all men are fundamentally flawed and will often choose self-promotion over the good of the nation.

Yes? No?


15 posted on 03/06/2012 5:02:41 AM PST by Jemian
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To: Jemian

Very well stated, And the beauty of a true Republic is that it also harness self-interest to the great good of the Republic. A win-win for everyone, no other system even comes close.


16 posted on 03/06/2012 5:47:09 AM PST by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
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To: Jacquerie

Spare me the patronizing snark. I meant the question academically. I am conversant with the Federalist Papers, thank you.


17 posted on 03/06/2012 7:22:35 AM PST by IronJack (=)
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To: DollyCali; LadyDoc

I have been an almost daily reader of FR since the Clinton years but have never run a ping list. Maybe I will try a Hillsdale ping list.

I don’t know if I can handle such responsibility! LOL


18 posted on 03/06/2012 3:02:44 PM PST by iowamark (The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves)
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Readings


19 posted on 03/06/2012 3:35:44 PM PST by iowamark (The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves)
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Week 3: “The Problem of Majority Tyranny” Readings

Readings:
  1. “Federalist 10” – James Madison
  2. “Circular Letter to the States” – George Washington
  3. “Letter to John Jay” – George Washington
  4. “Notes on the State of Virginia Query XIII: Constitution” – Thomas Jefferson
  5. “Vices of the Political System of the United States” – James Madison

20 posted on 03/06/2012 3:50:29 PM PST by iowamark (The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves)
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