The following post in another thread came as we were going off-topic but I thought the tangent was worth addressing.

Those are scathing words. Ninteen out of 20 people I ask is very happy with their insurance. But the trend in the USA is to have the tiny minority rule the rest of us.
Fact:
Most people want the borders secured
Most people favor the Arizona law that was just signed by their Governor
Most people like their present insurance
Most people favor the second amendment
Most people abhor abortion
Most people want smaller government
Most people do not want this supreme court nomination confirmed
Most people think the USA is exceptional

Most people don't like Obama bowing to other countries
Most people think that our present leaders in congress and the white house are doing a terrible job.

What do you not understand about the word MOST?

If you ask me if I'm happy with my insurance, I'll tell you "yes". But if you remember what I said earlier, my point was that the question was skewed. If in your "19 of 20" you had asked the unemployed, those denied because of pre-existing conditions, those dropped when their cancer treatments got 'too expensive', etc., you would have gotten DRASTICALLY different results.

To illustrate my point, back in the 1950s, if you asked a majority of deep south residents about civil rights, you would have found a 'majority' would have supported keeping black in the back of the bus.

A 'majority' doesn't make things 'right'. It just makes them 'popular'.

Now, Donna, you threw a lot of noise up there that looks like you were trying to say that anything that could be labelled with the "most people" tag was good. Well, it all depends on how you ask the question. I wish I could find the study that was done some 10+ years ago that reworded the Bill of Rights and asked people whether or not they supported the articles. "Most people" ended up in favor of overturning most of the Bill of Rights.

You mix in undeniable truths with some more slanted ones. Sure, we all want the borders secure. The Arizona law has made some people nervous but, provided the "reasonable suspicion" clause is followed, yeah, 'most people' support it. "Most people" favor the second ammendment but are WIDELY split on how much to limit it. "Most people" don't like abortion and wish it (as an issue) would 'go away'. I don't like it either, but I've seen firsthand many reasons why you can't just 'ban it'. "Most people' want smaller government until it's THEIR ox being gored. "Most people" haven't got a clue about *any* Supreme Court justice except what they see on TV - but I'm certainly willing to see what statistics you've seen on the public opinion of the latest nominee.

"Most people" think the United States is exceptional? I'd have to agree. You can include me in those numbers.

"Bowing to other countries"? Unreal. A 'respectful' bow is one thing. It's open to interpretation and I choose to see it in far less inflammatory terms than you do. I was far more offended by Bush sucking up to saudi royalty. You know - the country where almost all the 9/11 terrorists came from and where women aren't allowed to drive?

"Most" is more in how you ask the question.

In 1976 the Boston Museum of Science and "Where's Boston" had displays with polls set up to see what modern Americans thought of the issues that ended up generating the American Revolution. They were careful not to give away what 'side' a given answer might reveal. One question I remember, in particular, was about the tea tax which was only 2% and far less than what other countries, including England's home population, were paying. People were very surprised to find out just how "tory" they were.

I'm sorry but my first reaction to "Most people think..." is "Can I see the question?"

Actually D I'm a little with you on this one because I fear the tyranny of the majority as did our Founders. That's why our Founders created a Republic and not a Democracy.

On the issue of the Arizona Illegal Immigration Law; it strictly forbids what you fear. Eric Holder found this out when he was humiliated in front of Congress when he had to admit that before testifying he did not read this "10 page Bill".

Why do Liberals pick and choose from the facts?

Umm.. Conservatives do the same thing. Taking the most egregious example is the health care debate. Many say we need reform. Conservatives say 'most are happy with their coverage'. Pointing out that the 'most' in their example is ignoring the part of the population where the problem is doesn't seem to make an impression.