Memo to CM Cohen: "The majority can easily tyrannize the minority"

Photo via 4Tests.com

Many alert Opp Now readers raised their eyebrows when CM David Cohen, in supporting the much-derided Prop 5 (which would lower the local tax threshold from 66% to 55%), suggested that majority rule was and should be the preferred form of democracy. The New Naratif website disagrees.

Majority rule cannot be the only expression of “supreme power” in a democracy. The majority can also easily tyrannise the minority. Hence, the crucial corollary: majority rule must be balanced by minority rights. Just as democracy must guarantee the expression of the popular will through majority rule, it must guarantee that the majority will not abuse its power to violate the basic and inalienable rights of the minority.

Sign up to receive updates on Opp Now articles. Click HERE.

It is not enough that such rights are guaranteed on paper; minorities must also be confident that they will be protected from a majority using its numbers, powers, or influence to oppress, subjugate, silence, or exclude them. Otherwise, they have no incentive to participate in the system and may withdraw their consent from being governed. 

What is a “Minority”?

What is a minority? It is important to note that minorities, despite their name, are not necessarily numerically inferior. Women, for example, are regularly discriminated against even though in many populations they form a majority. Instead, being a minority is about the discrimination you face and/or your lack of power and influence to protect your rights.

{Editors' note: New Naratif (Malay for "New Narrative") is a movement focused on advancing democracy in Southeast Asia, fighting for the dignity and freedom of the Southeast Asian people.}

Read the whole thing at their excellent website here.

Follow Opportunity Now on Twitter @svopportunity

Related:

• Opinion: Speaking Up(land) for taxpayer rights, as California awaits '24 Prop 13 battles

• Should it be easier for City/State gov't to access tax revenue?

• Lowering the bar for raising local taxes

Sign up to receive updates on Opp Now articles

Email Address:

First Name:

Last Name:

Opp Now enthusiastically welcomes smart, thoughtful, fair-minded, well-written comments from our readers. But be advised: we have zero interest in posting rants, ad hominems, poorly-argued screeds, transparently partisan yack, or the hateful name-calling often seen on other local websites. So if you've got a great idea that will add to the conversation, please send it in. If you're trolling or shilling for a candidate or initiative, forget it.