General Discussion

merrily

(45,251 posts)

1. Being in the majority doesn't equal being right and has zero to do with "knowing better" than others

Reply to hill2016 (Original post)

Sat Jun 25, 2016, 12:30 AM

Jun 2016

Being in the majority has to do with numbers, not with being right. Often the majority is horribly wrong. Protecting people from the will of the majority is the reason the bill of rights had to exist, as well as the 13th to 15th amendments.

A super majority of Americans believed in prohibition, until it didn't.

The right to self-determination is a fundamental right. Why would anyone try to subvert the will of [View all]
the majority of the people?

Thinking you know better than the majority of voters really smacks of elitism and is the height of arrogance. "I know what's best for you so just shut up and listen".

Democracy is truly a beautiful thing.

Democracy has to do with certain things being decided by the majority, not with the majority being right. Also, some people have highly selective ideas of what constitutes democracy, and even highly selective concepts of what constitutes telling others to "shut up and listen."

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The right to self-determination is a fundamental right. Why would anyone try to subvert the will of [View all] hill2016 Jun 2016 OP

Being in the majority doesn't equal being right and has zero to do with "knowing better" than others merrily Jun 2016 #1

what gives the minority the right to say what's right or wrong hill2016 Jun 2016 #5

Straw man and other logical fallacies. Posting that being in the majority has to do with merrily Jun 2016 #9

When the elites lose, Democracy isn't so great Press Virginia Jun 2016 #10

I don't know, there was a time where so-called democracy was fine with slavery, discrimination, Hoyt Jun 2016 #2

Slavery=no democracy. ronnie624 Jun 2016 #15

If everybody votes, Igel Jun 2016 #32

It isn't that simple. ronnie624 Jun 2016 #34

The will of the majority does not trump the rights of the minority. Adrahil Jun 2016 #3

the minority hill2016 Jun 2016 #6

I don't know why anyone, who loves democracy, Press Virginia Jun 2016 #8

Democracy means giving people a say and going with the majority. merrily Jun 2016 #11

You are correct. I just keep seeing this argument about the Press Virginia Jun 2016 #13

Thank you. If everything is majority rule, the corollary is that the minority has zero rights. merrily Jun 2016 #16

How would you get a supermajority in a referendum? Press Virginia Jun 2016 #7

Have a referendum on amending the US Constitution. merrily Jun 2016 #12

What does that have to do with the Brexit? Press Virginia Jun 2016 #14

Beats me. You asked how one gets a super majority. I answered. merrily Jun 2016 #19

Switzerland and, I think Denmark, aren't in the EU and they've done just fine Press Virginia Jun 2016 #4

It is odd how much hysteria the press in whipping up newthinking Jun 2016 #17

The entire opposition to the Brexit has been about fear and doom Press Virginia Jun 2016 #18

Wall Street adamantly opposed brexit. merrily Jun 2016 #21

I did not oppose it. As an American 840high Jun 2016 #22

The press is made up of people who believe their college professors AngryAmish Jun 2016 #26

Sigh. Denmark is in the EU. And Switzerland is in Schengen, which the UK isn't. Recursion Jun 2016 #25

Denmark is in the EU oberliner Jun 2016 #31

Proposition 8. (n/t) Iggo Jun 2016 #20

Whenever I find myself in the majority, I'm pleasantly surprised. stone space Jun 2016 #23

Is anybody trying to "subvert" it? Recursion Jun 2016 #24

Is someone trying to subvert it? TubbersUK Jun 2016 #27

Well - it's a different thing when BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #28

Propaganda is a disgusting tool in the hands of unscrupulous people Android3.14 Jun 2016 #29

Hmmmm.... uriel1972 Jun 2016 #30

I don't think "self determination" necessarily means what you think it does. Igel Jun 2016 #33