TO CONSTITUTE OR NOT
In the famous article written by James Madison in 1787 entitled “Federalist #10”, one of his strongest arguments in favor of the Constitution was the fact that it established a government that was capable of controlling the violence and damage caused by “special interest groups.” Although, these groups were at odds with each other, they frequently worked against the public interest, and infringed upon the rights of others. It appears that both supporters and opponents of the plan were concerned with the political instability caused by rival groups. Madison thought that the state governments were so easily persuaded by these special interests groups that citizens were upset with politics and were blaming the government for their problems.
Given the nature of man, special interest groups are inevitable. As long as people hold different opinions, have different amounts of wealth, and own different amounts of property, they will continue to fraternize with people who are most like them. For example, the interests of landowners differ from those who own businesses. Government must not only protect the conflicting interests of property owners, it must, at the same time, successfully regulate the conflicts that result from those who own or don’t own, property.
To Madison, he believed there were only two ways to control the groups: one, to remove its causes and the second to control its effects. The first is impossible. Madison stated that there are only two ways to remove the causes of a group, destroy liberty or give every citizen the same opinions, passions, and interests. Destroying liberty was a “cure worse than the disease itself,” and the second was impracticable. Thereby a government created by the Constitution could control the damage caused by such special interest groups.
Madison was on to something way back in the 1780s. His understanding of how damaging special interest groups could be to a small state government was a huge concern although some officials could not see the big picture and refuted Madison’s ideas. A large government could undertake the groups and stand up to them. Thankfully, Madison had the forethought to realize that a new plan of government could be formed whereby these groups could be controlled. Even in today’s government, these groups wheel a lot of power and influence. The hard work of several good men in the 1780s led to a better way of living today, and a form of government whose basic principals still exists. We as citizens don’t all have to believe in the same thing or practice the same way of life. We are free to choose what we believe and what we do.
