3 ms·

Not exactly. The government rules by consent of the governed.

• tptacek 13y ago
  Obviously not the consent of all the governed, all the time.
  • tedunangst 13y ago
    That's what democracy is all about. The majority rules, unless the majority is wrong, then the minority rules.
    • baddox 13y ago
      Exactly. Democracy, like all government, is about might makes right. That was my point.
  • baddox 13y ago
    Which is why I think that phrase in the Declaration of Independence is philosophically deceptive, and perhaps deliberately so. To someone who does consent to most or all other their government's actions, it will give them a warm fuzzy feeling. To someone who doesn't consent, even if they're in the minority, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. What's the real philosophy there? Is it really just that, if 50% plus one person consents to the government, everything is cool, but if one less person consents, they are all obligated to alter or abolish it?