Isn't their a better way to protect the will of the minority.

[rightwinger]

There is nothing that says the will of the minority can not be accommodated. For over 200 years minority views have been included in major legislation. This involves cooperating with the majority, compromising for the greater good and working out a deal.
The way not to do it is to be obstructionist, block every attempt at legislation, spreading lies and hate and then questioning why you are not treated with respect.

 

[NYcarbineer]

State's rights as a 'solution' just gives a smaller majority the right to oppress an even smaller minority.

Remember segregation? That existed BECAUSE of state's rights. You had the majority within the state (which was a minority nationally) imposing their will on a minority within the state, and because of 'state's rights' it was not supposed to be the business of the federal government to remedy the situation.

That was the Democrat controlled southern states, amiright?

They were CONSERVATIVE Democrats. Quit being a retard.

 

[NYcarbineer]

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

Well, if you're such a patriot,

go bleed on a tree.

 

[Brubricker]

Absent the filibuster, the public option would've been signed into law last year and the right-wing would today would be bemoaning the fact that they couldn't stop it. You want your protection for the will of the minority? There you have it.

 

[bodecea]

Isn't there a better way to protect the minority from the majority in this country than what we have now? I know we talk constitutional government but when one side really wants something they tend to ignore the restraints of the constitution and force others to live by laws they don't want to live by. I wonder if federalism would work better in this country where the majority, acting through their own state governments, of states would enact laws that they like and the minority can vote for laws that they like for themselves. No matter what the issue is the minority, in their own state, can protect themselves from the wishes of people in other states.

I am amused at the Right's sudden "come to Jesus" over minorities and their rights.

 

[bodecea]

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson

Well, if you're such a patriot,

go bleed on a tree.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Isn't there a better way to protect the minority from the majority in this country than what we have now? I know we talk constitutional government but when one side really wants something they tend to ignore the restraints of the constitution and force others to live by laws they don't want to live by. I wonder if federalism would work better in this country where the majority, acting through their own state governments, of states would enact laws that they like and the minority can vote for laws that they like for themselves. No matter what the issue is the minority, in their own state, can protect themselves from the wishes of people in other states.

I am amused at the Right's sudden "come to Jesus" over minorities and their rights.

Conservatives envision a Magic Constitution wherein when conservatives are in power, majority rules, but when liberals are in power,

minority rules.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Absent the filibuster, the public option would've been signed into law last year and the right-wing would today would be bemoaning the fact that they couldn't stop it. You want your protection for the will of the minority? There you have it.

A couple weeks ago Republican Senator Barrasso hilariously said that a bill as important as healthcare should get 70 or 80 votes.

Republicans and their rightwing towelboys are always at the goalposts, poised and ready, just waiting for the word 'Move!!'

 

[Dr.Traveler]

Simply put: No.

The minority opinion has access to Congressional elections every 2 years on top of a slew of protections in the Constitution and out of it. At this point, the minority has the power to completely muck up the process and stop any action they want.

I'm not in favor of an all powerful majority, but at some point enough is enough.

 

[Charles Stucker]

The Majority should rule.. .

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the decision.

 

[rightwinger]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

 

[Midnight Marauder]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

"Why should we put a plan out? Our plan is to stop HIM! (Bush)"

-- Nancy Pelosi, 2003.

Back when it was okay to be obstructionist, and not put forth alternatives or ideas.

 

[Charles Stucker]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

You mean the Democratic party is not doing it right when they are out of power?

 

[rightwinger]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

You mean the Democratic party is not doing it right when they are out of power?

I'm afraid the Dems crossed the aisle much more frequently than the Party of NO....

So far from the Republicans its .........NEVER?

 

[Care4all]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

"Why should we put a plan out? Our plan is to stop HIM! (Bush)"

-- Nancy Pelosi, 2003.

Back when it was okay to be obstructionist, and not put forth alternatives or ideas.

what did they obstruct....bush got everything he had congress put forward i believe? He was very successful as a president, in this manner.

the dems in the house were against the pill bill, no child left behind, against the iraqi resolution, against funding the war in iraq, against wire tapping, against gitmo, against sending a build up of troops, (against alito and roberts as justices...).i can go on and on, but ALL of those things got passed and signed by bush, expeditiously.

 

[Charles Stucker]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

You mean the Democratic party is not doing it right when they are out of power?

I'm afraid the Dems crossed the aisle much more frequently than the Party of NO....

So far from the Republicans its .........NEVER?

So you are afraid the Democrats won't stifle the Republicans when they gain the majority?
Right now independent Democrats are holding up some of Obama's socialist plans - so perhaps they, the independent Dems, are a minority while being part of the majority and they are saying no.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

There is nothing preventing the minority from participating in government. All it takes is a willingness to compromise, seek a middle ground and put aside your ego. Minority parties have contributed to legislation since the country was founded.

The way not to do it is obstruct, delay, tell half truths and lies and then complain that nobody will play with you

"Why should we put a plan out? Our plan is to stop HIM! (Bush)"

-- Nancy Pelosi, 2003.

Back when it was okay to be obstructionist, and not put forth alternatives or ideas.

what did they obstruct....bush got everything he had congress put forward i believe?

Health care reform.

Ironically, back then Pelosi and the Dem leadership didn't care all that much about 50K people dying every day and stuff.

Bush got what he wanted? I guess just like anyone else in a co-dependency relationship does, Bush got his war funding but winked, nodded and gave the Dems each and every thing they wanted too.

Back then we had a co-dependency relationship between the POTUS and Congress. Now it's a marriage.

It's supposed to be an adversarial relationship. And until we get that back, the country is in for alot more trouble.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Isn't there a better way to protect the minority from the majority in this country than what we have now? I know we talk constitutional government but when one side really wants something they tend to ignore the restraints of the constitution and force others to live by laws they don't want to live by. I wonder if federalism would work better in this country where the majority, acting through their own state governments, of states would enact laws that they like and the minority can vote for laws that they like for themselves. No matter what the issue is the minority, in their own state, can protect themselves from the wishes of people in other states.

No, ihopehefails, the Constitution, not majoritarianism, is how we protect our rights. You wish to set up fifty small separate governments that independently find their own constitutional determination. That is not the way federalism works.

And the majority, of which you are not a part, does not want to be controlled by you.

 

[Care4all]

"Why should we put a plan out? Our plan is to stop HIM! (Bush)"

-- Nancy Pelosi, 2003.

Back when it was okay to be obstructionist, and not put forth alternatives or ideas.

what did they obstruct....bush got everything he had congress put forward i believe?

Health care reform.

Ironically, back then Pelosi and the Dem leadership didn't care all that much about 50K people dying every day and stuff.

Bush got what he wanted? I guess just like anyone else in a co-dependency relationship does, Bush got his war funding but winked, nodded and gave the Dems each and every thing they wanted too.

Back then we had a co-dependency relationship between the POTUS and Congress. Now it's a marriage.

It's supposed to be an adversarial relationship. And until we get that back, the country is in for alot more trouble.

health care reform?

there was never a health care reform bill put forward by republicans to obstruct mm?

 

[Sarah G]

Isn't there a better way to protect the minority from the majority in this country than what we have now? I know we talk constitutional government but when one side really wants something they tend to ignore the restraints of the constitution and force others to live by laws they don't want to live by. I wonder if federalism would work better in this country where the majority, acting through their own state governments, of states would enact laws that they like and the minority can vote for laws that they like for themselves. No matter what the issue is the minority, in their own state, can protect themselves from the wishes of people in other states.

The best way is for the minority to start winning elections.