The Will of the People
August 13, 2010 - by
Some people must have superpowers.
How else can they divine “the will of the people” all by themselves?
Frequently, people comment here that Obama and the Democrats are defying “the will of the people” or “the majority.”
I hate to break it to you, but under our beloved Constitution the only way to definitively determine the will of the people is by an election.
And Obama won. Overwhelmingly. Including in states that Democrats hadn’t won in decades. Like North Carolina
Now, he may lose in 2012. That would be the will of the people. Or he may win another four years. Again, will of the people.
And Republicans may win this year. Will of the people.
But the will of the people is not necessarily what you or I think it is, especially when it always happens to jibe with our personal opinions. It’s not necessarily what the latest poll said. Especially when another poll might say exactly the opposite.
And it’s not necessarily whatever some cable TV blabbermouth – left or right – is saying.
Individuals’ opinions are always interesting – whether idiotic or insightful. But they aren’t necessarily “the will of the people.”
The Will of the People
August 13, 2010/
Some people must have superpowers.
How else can they divine “the will of the people” all by themselves?
Frequently, people comment here that Obama and the Democrats are defying “the will of the people” or “the majority.”
I hate to break it to you, but under our beloved Constitution the only way to definitively determine the will of the people is by an election.
And Obama won. Overwhelmingly. Including in states that Democrats hadn’t won in decades. Like North Carolina
Now, he may lose in 2012. That would be the will of the people. Or he may win another four years. Again, will of the people.
And Republicans may win this year. Will of the people.
But the will of the people is not necessarily what you or I think it is, especially when it always happens to jibe with our personal opinions. It’s not necessarily what the latest poll said. Especially when another poll might say exactly the opposite.
And it’s not necessarily whatever some cable TV blabbermouth – left or right – is saying.
Individuals’ opinions are always interesting – whether idiotic or insightful. But they aren’t necessarily “the will of the people.”