1. The Problem of a free people is Self Interest: the basic assumption is all are self interested
    1. If People are self interested then
      1. interests differ and
      2. similar interests associate;
        1. similarly interested associations are factions
          1. for Madison factions are united contrary to the common good.
            1. if factions believed in the common good they would not be factions
    2. factions cause conflict and can lead to violence
      1. conflict can be seen on a spectrum from
        1. I disagree---->civil war.
      2. Government is established to eliminate violence but retain the conflict.
        1. Eliminating violence supports stability
        2. Retaining the conflict supports freedom
    3. there are then two choices for government, given this construction:
      1. Government can either take sides or not take sides in the conflict
        1. If government does not take sides between the conflicting factions there is chaos
        2. If government takes sides between the conflicting factions government is a tyrannical
          1. it is a concentration of power which creates winners and losers
    4. Because factions believe their interests are correct, they want to spread those interests and dominate the public discussion
        1. This is called the mischief of factions.
        2. This must be allowed to preserve freedom.
      1. However, if one faction dominates violence will result.
        1. Thus, the mischief of factions is domination leading to violence.
      2. The purpose of government is the stop the mischief.
  2. Logically there are two ways to cure the mischief of faction: attack the causes or effects.
    1. Causes: these are basically the collective solutions, e.g. fascism and socialism.
      1. give all the same opinion
      2. outlaw groups
    2. Possible solutions to curing the effects of factions:
      1. Democracy
        1. is majority rule therefore tyrannical
        2. democracy is not a republic
          1. republic is representative and a republic is larger than a democracy
      2. Great Men
        1. will not be around long enough
    3. Ultimately the problem is majority faction and factional violence
      1. The Solution: a republic based on representation.
        1. a republic is larger, there are more interests.
          1. When you expand society the chances of one interest dominating lessens.
          2. representation acts as a filter for the violence
      2. the potentially violent conflict is brought from the streets into government using words.
        1. The citizens self-interest will make him elect the best politician;
        2. the representative's self-interest is to stay in power.
    4. Why is this the solution?
      1. Through Dispersed Powers and a large Republic, no faction can dominate
        1. You can now give government enormous powers to break the mischief of faction.
          1. Federalist 51 is how to replicate this scheme in government.
    5. How this is the solution?:
      1. Dispersed Power:
        1. To have government be effective it is given a large amount of power.
        2. But, the ability of government to exercise the power is constrained by the number and power of factions in government.
          1. There is then going to be conflict in government.
            1. The result is slowed or deadlocked government.
            2. This will result in a waning of passions and reason will come to the fore.
        3. Representation brings interests into government thus dispersing power.
      2. Institutional methods of dispersing power
        1. Separation of power, bi-cameralism and Federalism are ways of dispersing power and bringing conflict into government.
    6. Thus conflict is assured by making each branch independent but making each need the other to get things done.
      1. This is accomplished by giving each different terms, apportionment, constituencies and size.
    7. Thus, self-interest leads to the public good in a liberal society

      8. See Walt Stone, "Republic at Risk" Brooks-Cole