I. The Problem of a free people is Self Interest: the basic assumption is all are self interested
A. If People are self interested then
1. interests differ and
2. similar interests associate;
a. similarly interested associations are factions
i. for Madison factions are united contrary to the common good.
ii. if factions believed in the common good they would not be factions
B. factions cause conflict and can lead to violence
1. conflict can be seen on a spectrum from
a. I disagree---->civil war.
C. Government is established to eliminate violence but retain the conflict.
1. Eliminating violence supports stability
2. Retaining the conflict supports freedom
D. there are then two choices for government, given this construction:
1. Government can either take sides or not take sides in the conflict
a. If government does not take sides between the conflicting factions there is chaos
b. If government takes sides between the conflicting factions government is a tyrannical
i. it is a concentration of power which creates winners and losers
E. 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.
a. This must be allowed to preserve freedom.
2. However, if one faction dominates violence will result.
b. Thus, the mischief of factions is domination leading to violence.
F. The purpose of government is the stop the mischief.
1. Logically there are two ways to cure the mischief of faction: attack the causes or effects.
a. Causes: these are basically the collective solutions, e.g. fascism and socialism.
i. give all the same opinion
ii. outlaw groups
b. Possible solutions to curing the effects of factions:
i. Democracy
*. is majority rule therefore tyrannical
*. democracy is not a republic
ii. Great Men
*. will not be around long enough
G. Ultimately the problem is majority faction and factional violence
II. The Solution: it is in our self interest to form a large republic based on representation.
A. a republic is larger, there are more interests.
1. When you expand society the chances of one interest dominating lessens.
B. representation acts as a filter for the violence
1. the potentially violent conflict is brought from the streets into government using words.
a. The citizens self-interest will make him elect the best politician;
b. the representative's self-interest is to stay in power.
C. Why is this the solution?
1. Through Dispersed Powers and a large Republic, no faction can dominate
a. You can now give government enormous powers to break the mischief of faction.
i. Federalist 51 is how to replicate this scheme in government.
D. How this is the solution?:
1. Dispersed Power:
a. To have government be effective it is given a large amount of power.
b. But, the ability of government to exercise the power is constrained by the number and power of factions in government.
i. There is then going to be conflict in government.
c. The result is slowed or deadlocked government.
i. This will result in a waning of passions and reason will come to the fore.
2. Representation brings interests into government thus dispersing power.
E. Institutional methods of dispersing power
1. Separation of power,
2. bi-cameralism and
3. Federalism are ways of dispersing power and bringing conflict into government.
a. Thus, conflict is assured by making each branch independent but making each need the other to get things done.
b. This is accomplished by giving each different terms, apportionment, constituencies and size.
Thus, self-interest leads to the public good in a liberal society
III. the flaw in the Madisonian scheme is also self interest; it is not in our instrumental self interest to participate
A. Cost of participation: political participation is any effort to influence shared outcomes.
1. What Madison missed is that participation is costly
a. opportunity costs: what one gives up to accomplish something else.
2.The rate of participation is inversely related to the cost of participation.
a. The rate of participation can be manipulated by:
i. Policy:
(1) national holiday
(2) registration changes
(3) literacy tests} negative
(4) poll tax} negative
B. Resource Bias
1. examples of the Resource Bias:
a. wealth
b. education
c. status
d. time
i. the elderly
2. A high resource bias leads to higher participation
a. The problem of resource bias is that it skews the electorate thus making the rich, e.g., a majority faction.
i. It is in the Self-Interest of politicians to ignore non- voters and emphasize those who help their campaigns.
c. Resource bias increases influence.
i. The degree of bias increases with the sort of participation, e.g., workers do not run for office, the rich do.
ii. However, ultimately politicians must be elected so the resource bias is not an absolute.
2. The reason for looking at voting is that it must work a certain way, i.e., representing all the numerous interests.
C. Paradox of Collective Action:
1. The rational individual will not pay for collective goods.
a. Thus, no one should vote!
b. The outcome of collective action is not dependent on the individual.
i. The benefit is indivisible, thus it is irrational to pay costs because we receive the benefit.
*. e.g., PBS
2. Collective good: available to everyone in the collectivity irrespective of their payment;
a. also, the imperceptibility of individual effects.
b. The cost has no relation to the benefit.
3. Private goods: are divisible and excludable
a. There is a direct relationship between costs and benefits.
i. Government is a public good.
ii. why pay the cost of participation if one gets the benefit without paying the cost?
D. Why then do people vote?
1. Duty, obligation, symbolism....
a. Free riders cause lower turnout.
b. The symbolic causes of voting are declining.
(1) Therefore, there may be a crisis of legitimation, alienation from government.
2. Implications:
a. Because of increased information costs and rational ignorance voters don't and won't care.
b. Is democracy possible? Barber and Lippman.
See Walt Stone, "Republic at Risk" Brooks-Cole