There is a continuing complaint that the leaders in Washington are always at war with one another and that this is bad. That they should agree, come to a resolution. Take the debt as an example, is it good or bad, do we need to spend more or less.
Now one need go no further than Federalist Paper 10 by Madison which recounts the usefulness of factions, namely the usefulness of there being many fragmented ideas and that from time to time the majority of other factions can block any one from implementing something.
As Madison states:
The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts.
Thus Progressive or Libertarian, Liberal or Conservative, factions are a natural part of humanity. Silencing any one voice is doing harm to the body politic. Thus for example the Progressives intent to destroy FOX is most likely as abhorrent to Madison as the intent of the Presbyterians to silence the Catholics.
Madison continues:
The inference to which we are brought is, that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects.
If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the forms of the Constitution. When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government, on the other hand, enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens. To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed. Let me add that it is the great desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued from the opprobrium under which it has so long labored, and be recommended to the esteem and adoption of mankind.
Yes, clogging the administration is an effect of a well-structured Government because it blocks the attempts of a faction.
Madison ends with:
The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source.
A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State. In the extent and proper structure of the Union, therefore, we behold a republican remedy for the diseases most incident to republican government. And according to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being republicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists.
One need just read his parting remarks. The need for paper money, namely the ability to create dollars out of free air, the equal division of property, what we now call redistribution of wealth. the abolition of debts, what we now see as adjusting mortgages for those stupid enough to get in over their heads, is as Madison clearly states a wicked project! Factions have their evils but they also help block certain other evils, evils of the majority, a Government run by one party which has taken up the wicked projects detested by Madison.
Just a thought for the day.
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