Federalist 10
In 1787 Madison wrote in the tenth essay of The Federalist Papers that, "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether mounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest. . ." (30). This became a huge problem during this time because many competing groups were conflicting over a variety of issues. Faction is caused because it is in the nature of man to have differing opinions. These opinions ranged from religion, government, and leaders. The biggest and worst faction occurred between the rich and the poor. The reason that factions are so dangerous is because they usually have the ability and the power to manipulate the results in their own special interests rather then for the public good. One of the promises of a well-constructed Union is to break and control the violence of Faction. There were only two methods of curing this problem; they included either removing its causes; or the other by controlling its effects. The first method of removing the causes took away the freedom ofLiberty. However, this method couldn't work. As Madison said, "Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it i
Many minorities is better then a majority. Take for example the recent public incident involving John Rocker. By using minorities to prevent majorities you are in a sense using the disease to prevent it, this disease is Faction. Madison's view is still applied today as well. The fewer parties and interests, the more frequently a majority will be found within the same party. These leaders then harmonize and compromise. Without these different ideas our government wouldn't be the way it is today. The second method of removing the causes is by giving to every citizen the same opinions, same passions, and same interests. By doing so there is going to be different opinions, as there should be. This makes the majority less of a threat. As I mentioned before the most conflicting faction is between the rich and the poor. The government's first priority to the people is their right to allow their voices to be heard. And proves how decisions are made looking out for the public good and conflict often arises. Liberty is a necessity to political life and without it you are taking away the right of man.
Common topics in this essay:
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Federalist Papers,
Commercial Republic,
John Rocker,
Democracies Republic,
Republic Democracy,
,
removing causes,
checks balances,
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method removing causes,
rich poor,
minorities majority,
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