VLVL Re: Majorities Moral and Otherwise

[Paul Mackin]

On Sat, 12 Dec 1998, Peter Petto wrote:

> At 01:13 AM 12/12/98 -0500, Paul Mackin wrote:
> 
> > The big D [Democracy] is a nuisance of course but in the end other forces
> > prevail.
> 
> I'm a bit confused by this statement. Are you meaning that Democracy is a
> nuisance to the Good? Or that it is a nuisance to the other forces that prevail?
> 

I wrote that in the we small hours of the night but I'm sure I meant "the
other forces that prevail"--most importantly the managers of the economy,
whom it is not necessary for the sake of discussion to label as either
good or bad. 

It would be unbelievable in America but say in an extreme case THE
PEOPLE--either by direct referendum or through their elected
representatives--decided to have socialism. The executive branch of
govenment with the cooperation of the judiciary would have to 
try to implement socialism--would have to start running the economy, start
giving direct orders to the CEOs and their staffs as to the new way
things were going to be. This would not work of course and it would
quickly become apparent it would not work. The fact that the managerial
class would not cooperate would be only one of the reasons.  What 
would happen then? I believe that in a very short time the economy would
begin to grind to a screeching halt and choas not to say mass starvation
would not be far off. Congress would have to go into emergency session to
reconsider whether socialism was really a very good idea and would decide
with at least the tacit consent of THE PEOPLE that it was not.

This is hastily formulated and farfetched but makes the point I think.

Let me rephase that famous phrase. Government by the consent of the
governed that count.

			P.