by Stanley W. Shura

Created on: December 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 25, 2010

Now that the 2008 presidential campaign over, and its corollary processes of democracy in national, state and local politics having also concluded another season of reinforcing (or redefining!) the will of the majority, I am compelled to ponder the implied again mantra that the majority should always have their way. I am driven to ask, with my metaphorical hands on my hips, just why the "capital M" Majority, simply by merely BEING the majority, should have the authority and power and control to determine legal standards, cultural norms, and public (and PRIVATE!) moral decisions - no - morality itself!

I, for one, have come to the conclusion that almost never does 50.1% of any demographic even bother an effort to inform themselves about the issues on which they arbitrarily get a chance to have influence. How does a particular issue become public domain? Somebody decides, and is so driven and ambitious to do the work to muster public support, that this policy or that practice or some other matter of allegedly oh-so-immense public import that they become a squeaky wheel that our democracy does rightfully allow to find voice and effect.

But, should this ideal that the average citizen can, albeit often or even typically with tremendous work, and a better-than-average understanding of the American political and/or democratic process, always rightfully go unchecked? Some would argue that the vote itself IS that check - that if some nut decided to put a question on the ballot to make it a law, for example, to rename 'french fries' as "Freedom Fries" - the intelligent majority would do the right thing and knock this assinine pettiness, itself a mockery of the deadly serious matter of societal standards and consequences, right on its ass by an obvious 100%. I fear, however, that it would look more like 65%/35% against - and even that such a proposal, in the right (no, very wrong!) national moment and milieu, would actually pass!

These things do happen! I'll not go all cliche' and reference the OBVIOUS national "oops!" America has been suffering for a certain unmentionable number of years. I'll instead turn my attention to a proposal brought to the voters in the state of California - the so-called and I say infamous "Proposition 8".

This proposition "...ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAMESEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Provides that only marriage between

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