Independence Day
July 4, 2016
The Declaration of Independence states that the people should dissolve their government when they disapprove of the government's behavior. There is a tendency to get caught up in questions about what are the behaviors that the government is taking. Because you will always be able to find some who passionately disapprove of what a government is doing, the real question is how many people disapprove.
One might think that barring criminals, terrorists and the mentally disturbed from purchasing firearms is a reasonable government activity However, some people passionately believe that everyone, including these individuals should be allowed to purchase firearms. In a democracy, elections measure the relative size of the groups with different beliefs without regard for how passionately these beliefs are held. (Of course, all democracies determine what people are in the group to be counted e.g. gerrymandering to determine who is in a group).
In the United Kingdom (UK), voters have seen that some arguments for leaving the European Union (EU) were lies. Those favoring leaving the EU claimed that government-imposed austerity measures, designed to bolster banking interests were instead due to EU membership. For example, decreased access for national health service were attributed to money being diverted from the health service to the EU and increased utilization by immigrants from the EU.
In the UK 52% of voters who voted for to leave the EU were willing to dissolve a 43 year old compact that had helped to bring the country wealth and political stability in favor of an idea of a "pure" Great Britain, without regulations or burdens of union. The vote was barely more than 50-50. More than that, those favoring exit were heavily weighted toward older people, although it will be the younger who pay the price for the decision. Immediately following the election, some voters expressed regret for their votes. Some didn't understand what they were voting for; others seemed to have thought that their vote was a mere expression of anger that would have no effect; and others worried that the decision may lead to serious instability (eg renewed violence in Northern Ireland, a somewhat likely outcome of Scotland choosing their own independence.
In the US, it is unlikely that there is a majority willing to vote for Donald Trump and everything he wants . It is likely that the minority that votes for Trump do agree with his racist, nationalistic, misogynistic, climate-denying creed - - but they are, in fact, the minority. There are a lot of loud voices calling for atrocious un-American things such as government action based on skin color or nationality. The question is how many people think like this. The bet is not many.
Dissolving political unions is a right expressed in the Declaration of Independence and celebrated on Independence Day. For whatever reason, the people in a democracy may not always chose wisely, but we celebrate they are able to choose.
One might think that barring criminals, terrorists and the mentally disturbed from purchasing firearms is a reasonable government activity However, some people passionately believe that everyone, including these individuals should be allowed to purchase firearms. In a democracy, elections measure the relative size of the groups with different beliefs without regard for how passionately these beliefs are held. (Of course, all democracies determine what people are in the group to be counted e.g. gerrymandering to determine who is in a group).
In the United Kingdom (UK), voters have seen that some arguments for leaving the European Union (EU) were lies. Those favoring leaving the EU claimed that government-imposed austerity measures, designed to bolster banking interests were instead due to EU membership. For example, decreased access for national health service were attributed to money being diverted from the health service to the EU and increased utilization by immigrants from the EU.
In the UK 52% of voters who voted for to leave the EU were willing to dissolve a 43 year old compact that had helped to bring the country wealth and political stability in favor of an idea of a "pure" Great Britain, without regulations or burdens of union. The vote was barely more than 50-50. More than that, those favoring exit were heavily weighted toward older people, although it will be the younger who pay the price for the decision. Immediately following the election, some voters expressed regret for their votes. Some didn't understand what they were voting for; others seemed to have thought that their vote was a mere expression of anger that would have no effect; and others worried that the decision may lead to serious instability (eg renewed violence in Northern Ireland, a somewhat likely outcome of Scotland choosing their own independence.
In the US, it is unlikely that there is a majority willing to vote for Donald Trump and everything he wants . It is likely that the minority that votes for Trump do agree with his racist, nationalistic, misogynistic, climate-denying creed - - but they are, in fact, the minority. There are a lot of loud voices calling for atrocious un-American things such as government action based on skin color or nationality. The question is how many people think like this. The bet is not many.
Dissolving political unions is a right expressed in the Declaration of Independence and celebrated on Independence Day. For whatever reason, the people in a democracy may not always chose wisely, but we celebrate they are able to choose.