Can a majority consent to being governed?

[Anarchist420]

I don't think so. Here are a few reasons why:

Even 60% of all eligible voters voting is a high percentage. A U.S. representative can win with just 50% plus one vote. Then anything can pass by one vote... mathematically, that means any legislation can pass with less than 1% of all the subjects consenting.

People are not always aware of what the government is doing so the government can simply lie and it can get away with presenting no real alternatives.

The vast majority of people have high time preference so that also means they can't really consent to things like the PATRIOT Act and a police state.

Most people would never know the difference between living under the govt we suffer from today or living under no govt... it's like private slavery except on a larger scale.

In the 1780s the vast majority didn't even consent to the Constitution and most Presidents have won by deception (FDR), slim majorities (Obama both times, Bush 43 in 2004), or not even 2/5 of the popular vote (Lincoln).

"Consent of the governed" isn't possible IMO.

 

[Agent11]

If there was no government people would feel it. Hard.

Prisons, police require tax money to continue doing their job(and a legislature to enact laws), and without them crime would be rampant. The highways and bridges require constant government funded maintenance, without which interstate travel would be much, much harder. Our military, the strongest in the world requires government management and supply.

So we wouldn't have law and order, or reliable transportation, or national security... And that is just the start of the list.

 

[Jaskalas]

"Consent of the governed" isn't possible IMO.

If the governed consisted of just a few million people instead of 315 million... and these people had 50 promising American States to choose from, then their consent is more readily notarized.

 

[JoeyP]

The problem I have is this: if a majority of people want Moar Free Stuff without being on the hook to pay for it (non-taxpayers, illegals, etc), and politicians create bills and get them signed into law...then what happens to the sensible people (aka The Rich) who have played by the rules all along?

I'm really afraid that my taxes will go up because people who have no skin in the game want stuff on my dime. I worked real hard for what I have and already pay a lot in taxes. Now they want more?

It is looking very grim, and has been for some time now.

 

[Anarchist420]

The problem I have is this: if a majority of people want Moar Free Stuff without being on the hook to pay for it (non-taxpayers, illegals, etc), and politicians create bills and get them signed into law...then what happens to the sensible people (aka The Rich) who have played by the rules all along? I'm really afraid that my taxes will go up because people who have no skin in the game want stuff on my dime. I worked real hard for what I have and already pay a lot in taxes. Now they want more? It is looking very grim, and has been for some time now.

The root of the problem isn't really people wanting Moar Free Stuff... the problem is the Fed and the constant regulations. The banks, aided by the US gov, have screwed people over by telling them to borrow more than they're worth, that credit ratings matter, and all that shit... too few see the big picture and the state just makes that issue worse. Prices have gone through the roof partly due to Operation Screw and it's really a problem created by the govt.

The problem you're suffering from will exist as long as there are people who act like the state... the majority of people will always act like the state. No govt can protect you from people trying to relieve you of your property unless it's at the expense of someone else.

 

[Juror No. 8]

If there was no government people would feel it. Hard.

Prisons, police require tax money to continue doing their job(and a legislature to enact laws), and without them crime would be rampant. The highways and bridges require constant government funded maintenance, without which interstate travel would be much, much harder. Our military, the strongest in the world requires government management and supply.

So we wouldn't have law and order, or reliable transportation, or national security... And that is just the start of the list.

LOL.