Liberty. This word means many things to many people. There is no way to distinctly define the term without leaving someone's crucial point of view out of the equation. One person might say that anarchy would be the only way to have complete and utter freedom, while others would go as far as to believe a controlled communist government is the best route to achieving liberation. Factions (a group of people who agree on certain topics) are inevitable, due to the nature of man. As long as men hold different opinions, have different amounts of wealth, and own different amount of property, they will continue to fraternize with people who are most similar to them. In Federalist #10, James Madison summed up factions eloquently stating that “Liberty is faction, what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires.” The government created by the Constitution controls the damage caused by such factions. The likelihood that public office will be held by qualified men is greater in large countries because there will be more representative chosen by a greater number of citizens. Power is distributed
Liberty gives Americans their freedom. Although many people like to complain about our government and point out all of its bad qualities, most of the time legitimacy is never questioned. We feel very strongly in being able to conduct ourselves without the presence of the government in everything that we do. Now if this means electing rich while males into office, then so be it. James Madison knew that no matter who took office, that the general publics welfare would be a great deal of importance to the representative because he would need to get reelected for the following term and if not for that reason, just for the fact that he would have to answer to other people, checks and balances, for decisions that were made. Factions are sometimes biased, but the government that Madison set up through the constitution, allows us belong to different groups and still have our rights and beliefs protected.
in a checks and balance format, making it difficult for factions to completely take over. Madison’s views on faction are still relevant and exercised frequently even after 200 years have passed.
Example Essays Home
