Written by Frank Li
Can any country possibly be more exceptional than America, which was founded with neither a king nor a pope? No, of course not! Yet, today, not only is America most religious among the developed countries, she also seems to be yearning for a king, if not a living God (Is Donald Trump a God?). Why is that?
It’s “tyranny of the majority” (aka “democracy”), stupid!
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1. What is “tyranny of the majority”?
Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia – tyranny of the majority.
The tyranny of the majority (or tyranny of the masses) is an inherent weakness of majority rule in which the majority of an electorate can and does place its own interests above, and at the expense of, those in the minority. This results in oppression of minority groups comparable to that of a tyrant or despot, argued John Stuart Mill in his 1859 book On Liberty.[1]
American founding father Alexander Hamilton, writing to Thomas Jefferson from the Constitutional Convention, argued the same fears regarding the use of pure direct democracy by the majority to elect a demagogue who, rather than work for the benefit of all citizens, set out to either harm those in the minority or work only for those of the upper echelon. The Electoral College mechanism present in the indirect United States presidential election system, and the phenomenon of faithless electors allowed for within it, was, in part, deliberately created as a safety measure not only to prevent such a scenario, but also to prevent the use of democracy to overthrow democracy for an authoritarian, dictatorial or other system of oppressive government.[2] As articulated by Hamilton, one reason the Electoral College was created was so “that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications”.[3]
Are we there yet?
No, but getting closer day by day!
To understand this argument, we must go all the way back to the founding days …
2. What was America yesterday?
America was founded as a republic, specifically precluding democracy (i.e. one person, one vote). Two examples:
- “We the People” in the original Constitution refers to everybody, except for the minorities, women, and even white men without [enough] property.
- The establishment of the Electoral College as a safe-guard against the popular vote.
Why not a democracy?
Our Founding Fathers studied it and rejected it!
Bottom line: The word “democracy” is not in the U.S. Constitution!
More pointedly, America was actually founded by the rich, of the rich, and for the rich, perhaps with the hope, at best, that the rising tide would lift all boats. For more, read: The American Revolution is a Lie!
3. What is America today?
We have morphed ourselves into a democracy (e.g. one person, one vote) over the past 200 years, and are about to dismantle the last safe-guard against it: The Electoral College (Abolishing the Electoral College by Abolishing the U.S. Senate?)!
Specifically, let’s examine our government from three perspectives:
- The U.S. Senate.
- The U.S. House of Representatives.
- President Trump.
Let me briefly elaborate on each …
3.1 The U.S. Senate
There are several key rules to prevent ruling by the simple majority. Two examples:
- Rule 1: It requires a two-thirds vote (i.e. 67 votes) to convict a President impeached by the House. This rule is still in place.
- Rule 2: It requires a supermajority (i.e. 60 votes) to pass a bill. But this rule has been amended with a “nuclear option”, requiring merely a simple majority (i.e. 51 votes), which has been used more and more often, in accordance with the increasingly more polarized country. The image below highlights a worsening tread. For more, read: Brett Kavanaugh and Politics.
3.2 The U.S. House of Representatives
Most of the races are no longer competitive (2018 House Race Ratings), thanks to, among many reasons, decades of Gerrymandering! As a result, the key is to win the primary election within your own party, for which the more extreme you are, the more likely you are to win.
This lady is a recent extreme example: Wikipedia – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Still wondering about the polarization of American politics?
Wonder not – It’s democracy, as we practice it today, stupid!
3.3 President Trump
He recently shut down the government for one main reason: the harassment from his base, such as Ann Coulter, as highlighted by the image below. For more, read: On the wall, Trump caved first to the ‘swamp,’ then to the base.
Why does the base hold so much power over the President?
It’s the political system, stupid!
Specifically, it’s “getting re-elected ad nauseam“, stupid!
For more, read: President Trump: Governing vs. Campaigning for 2020.
3.4 Summary
America is obviously more democratic today than 200 years ago, but remains a country of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich.
Any doubt?
Look at the money involved in politics!
Yes, the poor does have some power (e.g. the voting rights). But is it a good thing? If yes, why is it often suppressed, especially in the South (Wikipedia – Voter suppression)?
4. What will America be tomorrow?
Bottom line: Democracy is, after all, simply a matter of demographics! So, how much dumber or intellectually lazier can an elite democracy proponent possibly be?
With America, the situation can be very bad, thanks to some very serious foundational issues. Five informative readings:
- The American Revolution is a Lie!
- Western Liberal Democracy is a Big and Fat Lie!
- Human Rights: Yet Another Big and Fat Western Lie!
- “Free market” is a lie (What is ‘Free Market’, Anyway?).
- “Free trade” is a lie (Free Trade and The U.S.).
5. Discussion
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
Unfortunately, most Americans seem to worry about the tyranny of the government, especially the tyranny of a king or dictator, without even knowing the existence of the other tyranny: “tyranny of the majority” (aka “democracy”)!
Worse yet, the latter is often even worse than the former! Three modern examples:
- Iraq was better off under Saddam than it is today!
- Libya was better off under Qadhafi than it is today!
- Syria was better off under Assad before the Arab Spring messed it up.
A basic question: how can democracy, a tried-but-failed system in Ancient Greece more than 2,000 years ago, have become so fashionable in the U.S. (as well as in the West) over the past 200 years?
A simple answer: It’s a lie! For more, read: History 2.0: Western Liberal Democracy is a Big and Fat Lie!
Two profound questions with simple answers:
- Can any country possibly be great without a great government? No!
- Is governing the same as campaigning? No!
Let me briefly elaborate on each …
5.1 No country can be great without a great government!
America does not even have a working government!
So, America is not really a great country, yet, in view of human history, especially when compared with China! Two informative readings:
5.2 Governing vs. campaigning
There is little governing in America, only campaigning, constantly!
Still wondering why America is so deeply in trouble? Wonder not – We have yet to invest on developing a great government, like China has been doing for thousands of years! Two informative readings:
6. More discussion
Our political system is not working!
“We the People” simply do not know what to do, other than trying something, anything, very different – First Barack Obama, then Donald Trump! For more, read: The Second American Revolution under Way?
6.1 Bad news for America
President Obama failed to make America great again, while President Trump can no longer possibly make America great again! Two main reasons:
- Neither proved to be a great transformational leader badly needed for America today. For more, read: An Open Letter To President-Elect Donald Trump.
- Governance is hard.
Bottom line: Exceptional at birth, America is proving to be not exceptional at all.
6.2 Good news for America
I have the most accurate diagnosis for America, as well as the best solution (American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?).
7. Closing
America, with more and more democracy, we are sliding more and more towards the “tyranny of the majority”!
Reform our political system, as I have suggested (American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?), or become a fiddle, second to China!
Now, please sit back and enjoy the long video below.
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