[lbo-talk] Re: Let Us Be Glad It Is Hard to Amend the Constitution

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Sat May 20 10:03:39 PDT 2006


Brian Charles Dauth wrote:


>No, it is a direct benefit of having a cumbersome amending process.
>The cumbersomeness allows the idiot passions time to cool and
>rationality to regain its rightful control.

That is exactly the rationale that Madison & Co. used, except their idea of "idiot passions" included any "wicked" attempt by the masses to expropriate the rich. The classic passage from Federalist 10 <http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed10.htm>: "A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project..."

Doug



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