Fortune Favors The Bold

“ What these academic treatises ignore is the concern that Madison and others had that what they called the tyranny of the majority was legitimate. A majority, Madison predicted, often whipped up by demagogues, would oppress a helpless minority, a group so naturally small it could never hope to protect itself at the polls alone—using the government to deprive them of those aspects of life fundamental to a free society. No kidding.

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Get Gay Marriage Off the Ballot - The Daily Beast (via tenrewnna) (via jaimeleigh)

Indeed. But it’s not even a public majority in this case! For fuck’s sake, it’s not even a majority of practicing Christians! It is a whipped-up minority! What’s the turnout in Maine this year? 50%. Close to half of 50% of registered voters (65% of the state’s population) opposed the gay marriage amendment. You know what that adds up to in absolutes? SEVENTEEN PERCENT OF MAINE’S POPULATION.

FYI - The remainder of the state was either too apathetic to vote, doesn’t have voting rights… or is too consumed by whatever they do for a living to carry out their civic duties, as usual. Yes, turnout matters, and it matters BIG. And it matters less than whoever you work for or whatever other silly thing you might plan on election day, no matter what. Vote absentee if you must.