The framers of the United States Constitution were leery of the tyranny of the majority. I believe we’re in the opposite situation these days: The tyranny of the minority. Here are a few examples:
• The filibuster “rules” in the US Senate mean that 60 votes are required to take up most bills. The filibuster does not exist in the Constitution. In addition, one Senator can block consideration of nominees to executive or judicial branch positions. Although the Senate’s six-year terms of office are meant to have a “cooling” effect on actions of the rowdier House of Representatives, the cooling effect can freeze legislation from being discussed.
• And then we have the Electoral College. A handful of states hold outsized power to control Presidential elections, regardless of the popular vote.
• Although most of the US population favors the right of women to make their own reproductive choices, state legislatures are gunning to have Roe vs. Wade overturned by the US Supreme Court. The recent leak of the draft opinion that would do just that is the most egregious example of minority rule. Five justices were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote. An earlier iteration of the Court decided a presidential election in favor of one president who lost the popular vote.
How to combat this tyranny? The majority needs to show up to vote in numbers not seen in decades. Encourage friends to register and vote in primaries and general elections. When the minority puts up obstacles to voting (looking at you, Georgia, Florida, and Texas), work around those barriers. In states that have all-mail elections such as Washington, make sure your ballot gets submitted in advance of the deadline. Verify that your vote was counted (possible in many states). Only with a solid majority can the tyranny of the minority be squelched.
May 04
Tyranny of the Minority
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