[Peace-discuss] Drinking the Kool-Aid

[Bob Illyes]

You're right, Bob, but there is an important issue that is getting 
submerged in the argument about Obama (which has become quite annoying). By 
ignoring this underlying issue, the argument can be continued indefinitely, 
to the detriment of most folks on this list.

Carl writes "A good leader would seem to be in the first place one who 
serves the interests of the majority, not the opposing interests of a 
minority." And then quotes James Madison as having said about the 1787 
constitution that its goal was not democracy, which he and his good 
colleagues saw as dangerous, but "to protect the minority of the opulent 
against the majority."

There is a middle ground, represented by liberalism, which is a compromise 
between majority rule and individual liberty- a difficult balancing act, 
but a worthwhile one in my estimation, but apparently not in Carl's. His 
"serves the interests of the majority" morphs easily into "the greatest 
good for the greatest number", which should give one pause. It could be 
used to justify slavery, for example, although I'm sure that this isn't 
Carl's intent.

Bob