Does the majority rule in America (anymore)?
 

I was inspired to create this thread by a comment in anothe thread. I have lifted/copied their statement that I felt neede a separate focus:

"We are a country of majority. The majority makes the rules. Like it or not."

With all the focus and effort on special interests and minority groups (not just race intended) and the ability continuously displayed day after day where the minority(count) rules.

Schools that limit or eliminate something deemed offensive by one person gets accomplished.
A small group that voices opposition to a writing or book or representation they do not like gets approval.
Then the larger issues like ACA where the majority of Americans were against it and it was passed (before read!).
And currently the the Iran nuclear agreement that most of Americans are against is being pushed even with threats by Obama.

So no, based on the current political, special interest, lobbyists and minority group progress I do not believe the majority rules as it once did.

And I do embrace the statement made by the poster quoted above:

LIKE IT OR NOT!!

Unfortunately, you are right. I guess I should have said that our country was based on a majority rule. Long since gone, I'm afraid.

Not as simple as portrayed.

Presidential races, for example is based on the majority of votes WITHIN the state to get ALL the electoral votes.

You elect a senator or Rep who is, in theory to represent his "constituents". Of course, what happens is that he/she is in a political party, and this if no real feedback from constituency, he/she will lean to the party in most cases.

Then, consider voter turnout....is the majority turning out to vote ? Is the majority knowledgable and involved in the issues ?

Then, again are you voting one one issue only, which could or could not be the majority feeling ?

Romney wins in 2012 IF turnout of those who we "think" may have voted for him had actually voted. Republicans win in 2014 because of turn out for the most part.

True, but I was generalizing when I suggested the rule of the majority. And generally speaking we did have such an ideology. The majority vote produced elected representatives that were supposed to consider the needs and wants of the majority, not the few. It's an old argument, now moot.

The constitution and its amendments were enacted to ensure that the minority did not get overlooked. The founders did excellent in their pursuit of balance and equality. The founders were concerned early on that the federal government would back to a monarchy.

Unfortunately beginning with FDR's Fair Deal and moving forward the federal government has gotten too involved in every aspect of people's lives, too large too regulate nd continues to erode the state rights

the executive today is operating almost exclusively by fiat. The legislative Branch is disorganized and fearful of not losing voters, and the judiciary has become activist.

Coupled with the above our educational system has failed, our culture has been declining for many years accompanied with a decline in morality and
lobbyist and unions have dominated in society.

We have now arrived to a state of being that we can't tell the difference between a Democrat and a socialist. Hence the minority now rules on every social issue irrespective of its validity, legality, morality.

Personal Best Regards:

Have you thought that the majority need not be only one group but could actually be several minority groups bonded together to become one large majority entity?

Using that as a base for discussion, the minority groups merged into a majority entity could easily contain or overpower or out vote the group that used to be the majority.

An accurate assessment!

What constitutes a majority today? What I mean here is that political groups manipulate mislead or plain out lie about polls, etc. We all understand that numbers an be made to say anything. We all know that pollsters will ask questions or select from a group that will say what they want the poll to reflect.

Even with those polls most pundits agree are legitimate this government will ignore. Obamacare, Iranian Deal are two in the forefront. But consider if we really have a majority with a war on women? Do we have a majority that believe the decision to establish a ratio of a CEO's pay to a clerk is needed and valid? I wanted to do a thread on this but every day someone adds a new thread that I thought no we need to address what has been posted now and then come back to this issue.

How should society act with a minority (meaning small) organizations like Black Lives Matter? Black Lives do matter but so do all lives.

I believe we are heading toward total moral anarchy and a disregard for the rule of law. Irrespective of the side one comes down on, on abortion Planned Parenthood's actions should horrify people because such a breach opens the door to other orwellian aspect .

Personal Best Regards:

A minority(not talking of race, so chill out folks) wishes to think that, but in reality, they are only louder. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. But, the fact is that PC seems to reign in America. In reality, many small groups are just an irritation that the majority doesn't want to deal with, so they buckle to them just to shut them up. It doesn't convince anyone that they are right or deserving, just an irritation that no one wants to deal with.

The silent majority empowers and emboldens minority group (numbers not race but race is one).
Too many of the silent majority just do not care as long as they are not personally affected.....not in their backyard!

And of course the weak and spineless, don't offend anybody (unless it is the majority).

Popular vote = majority wins.
Electoral vote = majority.
Show of hands = majority.

Silent majority gets what it deserves......a deteriorating America!

Really, how about 9 people in black robes over the majority!

Excellent point!! :BigApplause:

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

Captain John Smith of Jamestown gave the order of "no work, no food."

I mentioned both references because the first part is from the Bible and I do realize that the Bible offends liberal atheists.

When the pilgrims immigrated to America, they attempted socialism via the Mayflower Compact......and it failed.

Clean socialism from America and you will undoubtedly rid us of the noisy minority with their radical views.

Today, anyone that controls the media controls the voice and is louder than any majority. The minority always has an excuse for their failure, and it is never their fault. Those of the majority will undoubtedly be the ones that have made their way without gov assistance. They make no excuses for obstacles they encounter on the way. Liberals profess not to believe in a deity, yet use Christian charity as a means to extort benefits from the majority.

Then we no longer have a democracy!

I think that was the point. Nine elders (because you only get rid of them when they die on the job) dictate what they deem right or wrong. No matter what the majority want. No matter what the founders wanted. No matter what the constitution says. Obama says the constitution is just a guide. I doubt the elders even consider it that.

The Supreme Court justices review laws and determine if they are in accordance with the Constitution. If the majority of voters vote on some item, the Court can strike it down as being unconstitutional. It is the Court's responsibility to interpret the Constitution.

Yep, and they use their opinion and ideology to interpret the constitution. We need term limits for them as much as we need term limits for congress. If they can't even agree with each other, then how do you figure that they are correct in their interpretation?

Just remember, they do not review EVERY law that is passed. There is a complex system to rise to the Supreme Court level, and the justices decide what cases to hear and rule on.

If you are a student of the US Constitution, you will know that the lifetime terms of the justices is set forth in Article III. The justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The justices can resign or be removed by impeachment and convicted.

To impose term limits would involve a Constitutional amendment process which would take years (if ever) to accomplish.

Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Court, the President will try to fill the vacancy with a judge of the same political mindset of the President. It always doesn't work. George W. nominated John Roberts to the Court, didn't he? :clap2:

I am very offended by your blanket statement that Liberals do not believe in a deity.

I am a Quaker - which is Christian - and we certainly believe in God.

Yes, there are some Liberals who are atheists just as there some conservatives who are atheists.

I was a friend of Saul Alinski and he was a Christian. He attended the services of the Universal Unitarian Church and was a very spiritual man.

Your blanket statement is just hateful.

I totally agree.

Personal Best Regards:

I am a God fearing liberal Christian. If you read Jesus's teachings, you will be reading the teachings of a liberal by today's standards. Why do conservatives assume they are the only Christians? Why do they assume they are in the majority? The conservatives want to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I think most residents of The Villages are conservatives. How many of them would support repealing Medicare? How many would volunteer or vote for taking away their Medicare benefits? What is so bad about making complete health care, not just emergency health care, available for everybody? There are some things, e.g. military, first responders, infrastructure construction and maintenance, etc. are best done by government; why not health care?

You are describing the tea party to a tee, a small but very loud group that is in the process of destroying the republican party. In years past, how many senate seats did they cost the GOP with the likes of Christine O'Donnell, Sharon Angle, Ken Buck, Todd Akin, and many more?

And 2016 will be no different with candidates such as Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, etc. Even the chairman of the RNC, Reince Preibus, stated that the republican party, as we know it, will cease to exist with another loss in 2016.

I think the Tea Party does not carry the weight you think they do at all.

BUT...I will most certainly agree that the political climate because of the last 6 1/2 years is totally screwed up.

Trump is grabbing all the headlines from serious candidates on the GOP side.

Clinton's campaign seems to have drawn to a halt and if the reports are accurate the desperation in the Democratic party has them looking at Joe Biden and Al Gore even. More talk of criminal activity than issues on the left.

I still maintain it all could have been different had President Obama handled his first year in office more like a statesman than someone who just won a trophy.

BUT.....the climate has been changed for sure. As has the world.....we have more enemies, less friends, more violence in the Mid East and on our own streets.

It is a shame and I keep hoping for some optimistic news somewhere on something.

ISIS is now using chemical weapons, Iran is going to get rich and armed, Russia is getting stronger, we just opened diplomatic relations with one of the worst human rights countries in the world (Cuba).

We have a civil rights movement based on a lie, we make hero's of criminals, we continually hear of multiple shootings everywhere and crime in the poverty areas has never ever been higher or more violent.

Not a positive time for our country at all.

Buddy, if you EVER knew what the heck you were talking about, it would be a miracle! You are totally clueless.

YET, you dispute not one thing. Hmmm,

Let's cut out this juvenile chiding and get back to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has said ACA and same sex marriage are legal. That satisfies the liberals but not the conservatives. More people in the country identity as conservative than liberal. Shouldn't the views of the majority be the views that are made constitional since we are a nation built on majority views?

When a major majority of the population believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and 9 people in black robes overrule probably close to 300 million citizens that is no longer a democracy but an anarchy. The supreme court was established to interpret the constitution, not legislate from the bench. That belongs to Congress!

If you check recent Gallup and Pew Research polls, you will find that a majority of Americans are in favor of same sex marriage being legal everywhere.

The majority has ruled and was upheld by the Supreme Court.

I bet if you take a poll, you will find more on here that agree with him, than with you. I agree with him. On the other hand, you have disputed nothing that he mentioned. Try having an intelligent conversation, and then maybe the rest of us won't think "you are totally clueless."

Not true, but if it makes you feel better.....

Try reading the poll questions before making broad statements.

Yes, Obama's dream of a socialist Utopia. Pie in the sky dreams. Why work when the gov can take care of you, right? Gotta love it when liberals, atheists and gays try to justify behavior by using the Bible, Jesus and religion against real believers.

You want the Bible:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

The same with:
Matthew 13:12
Mark 4:25
John 15:2
etc, etc.

Please don't try to use scripture to convince conservatives of what you feel is right. Convince us with something that is fair, balanced, logical and WORKS. I've personally experienced socialism in other countries and I have yet to see a country as great as America. Why try something as old as socialism, when we have something in America that allows everyone the opportunity to live the lifestyle they choose? Sure, there is always room for improvement, but it only works when you WORK at it, not expect others to hand their labors over to you, because you feel that they should share. Believe me, Americans are very charitable and generous. We voluntarily give to those in need. We don't need the gov forcing us at gun point to hand over the fruits of our labor.

The majority also ruled when they went to the polls on election day 2012 and reelected Barack Obama, who supported same-sex marriage, as opposed to Mitt Romney, who thinks marriage is only between one man and one woman.

BTW: when this Supreme Court ruling came down, 37 states had already legalized same-sex marriage, including Florida.

:agree:

A lot of messed up folks, but just because liberal reps make a decision for the rest of us, does not mean the majority concur. If they truly used a referendum to allow the voters to decide, they get a different decision. NC did it and the voters decided that marriage was between a man and women. Big difference between civil unions and (religious) marriage. Even Christians might allow for a civil union, as long as their religious beliefs are not forced to conform to what they view as deviant behavior not endorsed by the Bible.

Back to the majority. The majority want to abolish Obamacare. The majority do not want their tax money to pay for everyone's college. The majority feel that free cell phones are being abused, that food stamps are being abused, that the border needs to be enforced, that illegals should not be given taxpayer benefits, that marijuana should not be legalized for recreation purposes, etc.

We will find out if all this is true on election day 2016.

Marriage should have been left as, and as I believe and many others (probably a majority), is between a man and a woman. Two beings that can create another being.

Those who prefer other than man and woman should be called something else.

We all know it was not called something else because they wanted whatever benefits accorded a man and woman in marriage.

The usual use, abuse or hide behind the law and most importantly a means for politicians to create a new voting block.

We are whoring away and redefining certain aspects of our lives and beliefs we have had for centuries to accomodate the few (and re-election!).

Once again, you engage your mouth before putting your brain in gear.
Cite your source for your statement.

You first. Polls are like AH's. Everyone has one. :a20:

They can call it whatever they wish. My marriage was a blessing from God. That's one entity that they can't force into acceptance. I can get the law to change my name to Frita or Mary, but that don't make me female in God's eyes. God don't make mistakes and those that feel different are just insulting Him. If they wish to embarrass themselves by dressing as women, it's a free country and I respect their right. And I respect their right to love whatever they wish, be it male to male, female to female, male to dog, horse, sheep, or chicken, etc. The law is the law. But, the law can't legislate blessings from God, no matter what they force from the churches. It's not my responsibility to condemn. That's God's bailiwick.