So I was hanging out with this guy on the weekend and we landed up having a debate on minorities. The question was: Should minorities have a veto in matters that affect them? Before I give my opinion, I'd like to hear some views. You can use Prop 8 as an example [ours was related to Indian stuff, but that would not be relevant here]
Minority rights are not guaranteed by veto, but rather by instruments like the constitution and state or federal laws, or the court system.
Not completely, that would be the tyranny of the majority. The majority can decide things within the limits of the law. It's the law that guarantees minority rights. The majority cannot vote away the rights of the minority.
I didn't say they "should". By definition, though, that's how a democracy works. It's a flawed system but it's the best we have.
The majority, but it's much harder to change constitutions than it is to change other kinds of laws. That's why minority rights were not enforced in many cases until recently.
Quote away. I've always said that Democracy is effectively mob rule. That's why the founders of this nation included rights endowed to ALL men by their creator.
Cultural attitudes changed. Denying minority rights was causing too much of a problem to the majority.
I agree. I am a believer in proportional representation. I think a true democracy should be will of the majority except where it tramples the rights of the minorities. ie. Majorities should not be able to deny the minorities any rights they enjoy. IOW, yes, I think minorities should have a veto when they are denied rights enjoyed by the majority.
so its kind of like the majority of wolves outvoting the sheep on what to have for dinner. Whites in America are in for a rude awakening when Hispanics become the majority.