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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAlexander Hamilton on why Harry Reid changed the fillibuster
From Federalist Paper #22
In those emergencies of a nation, in which the goodness or badness, the weakness or strength of its government, is of the greatest importance, there is commonly a necessity for action. The public business must, in some way or other, go forward. If a pertinacious minority can control the opinion of a majority, respecting the best mode of conducting it, the majority, in order that something may be done, must conform to the views of the minority; and thus the sense of the smaller number will overrule that of the greater, and give a tone to the national proceedings.
Hence, tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of the public good. And yet, in such a system, it is even happy when such compromises can take place: for upon some occasions things will not admit of accommodation; and then the measures of government must be injuriously suspended, or fatally defeated. It is often, by the impracticability of obtaining the concurrence of the necessary number of votes, kept in a state of inaction. Its situation must always savor of weakness, sometimes border upon anarchy.
malaise
(269,186 posts)Rec
LuvNewcastle
(16,858 posts)Leave it to today's Republicans to abuse and pervert everything. There's just no dealing with radicals. It's outrageous the way they've reacted to everything this President does. I've never seen anything even close to this in my lifetime. I don't think anyone has.
K and R
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)Alexander Hamilton (who was the proponent for a strong central government) was smart as hell and, unlike many of the Founding Fathers, worked his way up from nothing. Virtually everything he achieved he achieved by his own merit.
LuvNewcastle
(16,858 posts)Things might be a little different since those formative years were so important and each of the first several Presidents left their mark on the country.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)that he certainly could have been a major contender to be the 4th President. He was Washington's Aid-de-camp (sic?) and close confident. His proximity to Washington certainly would have worked in his favor. I think if Hamilton had lived and wanted it, he could have easily been the Federalists' pick instead of Charles Pickney. Madison vs. Hamilton. Now THAT would be a debate!