Letter writer Chuck Shirley is wrong in so many ways it is difficult to know where to start (“Majority rule: Don’t like it? Try an island of one,” Dec. 2).
The country wasn’t founded on majority rule. It was founded on the U.S. Constitution that has a well-defined set of protections (Bill of Rights) of individual and minority rights the majority (elected government) can’t violate. The founders were so afraid of the majority they included a senate (two senators from each state regardless of population) to balance the House of Representatives, which is a reflection of majority rule, as they are elected based on population. The founders went further by establishing the Supreme Court to referee what the president and Congress do to further ensure the majority doesn’t violate the constitutional protections provided everyone.
The idea that someone should move out of this country because they don’t like what the majority likes is pure nonsense. We all have the right to disagree or agree with elected government and, in fact, that right is guaranteed against the tyranny of the majority by our Constitution.
The majority isn’t always right and in many cases has been very wrong. The beauty of America is we have the right and some say the responsibility to disagree with the majority when we as individuals (minority) disagree. I would hope more people would respect and support the right to disagree; that is a part of what this county is really built on. I respect Mr. Shirley’s right to express his opinion, buy I respectfully disagree with that opinion.
Mike Mitte
Edmonds
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