I was thinking the other day. I try to avoid doing this for obvious reasons, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. What I was thinking about was something a friend of mine said about drug laws. Basically, he said “I don’t agree with most of the drug laws, but most Americans do, and in America, majority rules.”

I started thinking about this and, while it is not, strictly speaking, true (if most Americans decided they didn’t want to pay taxes, I bet we would still have to pay taxes), it does raise an interesting question:

What is the difference between democracy and mob rule?

At some point in American history, the majority of Americans felt that women should not be allowed equal rights with men. For example, the right to vote.

As near as I can tell, this was not changed until a majoriy of people passed the appropriate amendment to the Constitution. I think we look back on the people who didn’t support giving women the right to vote as somehow being backwards. Never-the-less, majority ruled until the country was convinced that women voting was not going to destroy the family unit.

This means that even if the majority wants something that is wrong, under a democracy, we will do it anyways. If the majority of Americans woke up one day and said “everyone must have their IQ branded onto their forehead,” that would become law and we’d all just have to live with it.

The thing that protects us from mob rule is the legal system. This is part of why judges don’t need to run for office. Once they are appointed, they can interpret the law for the good of all citizens, not just the majority.

Wouldn’t it be simpler, though, if we just let the mob have its way in all thing? They think Martha Stewart is guilty? Forget the trial! Lynch her!

They think it is all right for americans to torture Iraqis that might be terrorists? Break out the thumb screws!

They think that every American should follow the beliefs of Christianity? Everyone better convert now or work in the salt mines of Rigel 7!

Life would be easier if the largest group of people just made all the decisions for us and we didn’t have to worry about trilfing things like freedom and respect for individual rights.