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> Laws are often made to protect minorities, because history shows us time and time again that an unchecked majority of people can be real dicks. Under democra
by waterhouse 7y ago
> Laws are often made to protect minorities, because history shows us time and time again that an unchecked majority of people can be real dicks.
Under democracy, a majority of people can decide what laws there are, and inflict their dickishness as they wish. Laws are often made to oppress minorities. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws
See also part I of this essay: https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/02/21/current-affairs-some-puzzles-for-libertarians-treated-as-writing-prompts-for-short-stories/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/02/21/current-affairs-some-p...
- growse 7y agoWhile there are obvious exceptions, much of the time the majority has some empathy with traditionally oppressed minorities and votes for politicians who make laws to protect them. > Under democracy, a majority of people can decide what laws there are Also worth pointing out that under most democracies, this isn't true. The people decide which people should decide what laws there should be. It's an important difference.