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January 23, 2006
Tyranny of the Majority
Interesting editorial in the New York Times today about the dark side of our favorite American export, democracy. Predictably, the writer focuses on rights violations that offend leftist sensibilities: NSA spying, holding "enemy combatants" without formal charges, and even bizarrely suggesting that Bush's wrapping himself in the flag to scare away war critics is the first step towards some ominous Il Duce act he has in store.
Conspicuously absent was any mention of property rights, which seem to be at the top of the list when it comes to voters' appetites. With the recent Eminent Domain decision opening up the way for just about any property taking, confiscatory taxation seems almost quaint. But it still falls under the heading of government initiation of force, justified by the fact that the majority has demanded it. Of course, dishing out the pork is now en vogue with both democrats and republicans, so while quoting Alexis de Tocqueville and the founding fathers may give us a sense of principled analysis, it's clear that in Adam Cohen's opinion, we don't need any overarching pronouncements about "individual rights", to interrupt our self-satisfied musings on historical figures.
Posted by exaltron at January 23, 2006 11:32 PM
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