- Home
- News Grid
- Local News
- Green Hawk
- Politics
- School Zone
- Youth Camps
- Nonprofits
- Missing Pets
- Multimedia
- Arts
- Movies
- Outdoors
- Sports
- News Releases
- Columnists
- Blogs
- Opinions
- Classifieds
- Advertise
- Donate
- Partners
Harris Sherline: The Tyranny of the Majority
When I was in high school in the 1940s, we were taught to believe that majority rule was best, that the function of government was to help us, that our system of justice was intended to be a “search for the truth.” These ideas were widely accepted as immutable truths. Today, more than 60 years later, to my eye, they are no longer as true as we once thought. The cause may be directly attributable to our treasured democracy in action.
A brief examination of four major issues — taxes, tobacco, health care and property rights — helps illustrate how the rule of a simple majority has been affecting our rights as American citizens.
» Taxes: Everyone should pay their “fair share,” especially the rich. But, who are the rich? How many people do you know who think they are rich?
According to recent IRS figures, 50 percent of all taxpayers pay only about 3 percent of the total federal income tax burden, while the top 10 percent pay about 66 percent of the bill. Nearly half of all those who file federal returns pay no tax at all, the top 25 percent contribute 86 percent of the total, and the top 1 percent pay about 39 percent of all income taxes collected.
Is that fair enough? Or should the “rich” pay even more? Remember, the definition of rich probably includes you, no matter how you view yourself, since taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of about $55,000 are in the top 25 percent of taxpayers. So, is the “fair share” concept really fair?
» Tobacco: The tyranny of the majority is also seen in matters involving the tobacco industry. Tobacco companies have been cast in the role of villains and should be punished for selling a legal product but lying to the public about the effects of smoking on their health.
The power of the government has been used to levy a massive tax on the industry through litigation and settlement of court cases, in spite of the fact that cigarette packaging and advertising have carried warning labels for 25 years. Whatever you may think about the tobacco companies, we should question the actions of federal and state governments extracting money from any industry by this means and using it to fund pet projects that couldn’t gain the necessary public support to increase taxes to pay for them. If they can do that to the tobacco industry and get away with it, who will be next?
» Health care: Government intervention in health care has become a major focus. It’s no longer possible to escape the consequences of Big Brother’s involvement in health care. Driven by the votes of a growing elderly population, the “tyranny of the majority” continues to expand government intervention in our lives with cries for government funding of health care for all Americans.
» Property rights: Here, too, the “tyranny of the majority” is at work. Do you actually own your real property? Your home? The apartment complex or commercial building you bought as an investment? Your ranch or farm? If you think you do, consider just some of the following limitations on your ownership:
The government can take your property if it wants it for some public purpose (eminent domain).
Even if your property is paid for, you still have to pay a form of rent — forever (in the guise of property taxes and assessments) — to keep it. If you fail to pay, the state will eventually take it from you and sell it at public auction.
Limitations on the use of your land can be forced on you for such purposes as riding trails, access to the beach, power lines, view corridors, roads and highways, and maintenance of public areas. Zoning laws tell you what you can build — how to build it and what it must look like, how much you can charge tenants (rent control), and a host of other restrictions too numerous to include here.
The answer to the question “Who owns your property?” is — you don’t! Not really. You may have the title, but your control is limited.
It’s important to note that a majority is only “one” over half. One vote more than 50 percent is enough to win an election. One is enough to rule. And that “one” often delivers the power to dictate to the other half. One-half plus one can truly be a tyrannical majority in every key aspect of life in America: taxation, gun control, abortion, education and school choice, defense, Social Security, health care, property rights and land use — you name it.
Perhaps a “super majority,” say 60 percent to 65 percent, should be required to pass certain types of legislation, such as tax increases, bond issues and major programs such as health care.
— Harris R. Sherline is a retired CPA and former chairman and CEO of Santa Ynez Valley Hospital who has lived in Santa Barbara County for more than 30 years. He stays active writing opinion columns and his blog, Opinionfest.com.
Comments
Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules.
- No abusive, defamatory or libelous attacks. In plain English: No personal attacks.
- No vulgar or discriminatory language.
- If you do not follow these rules, don't be surprised if your comment is removed.
- Please use the Report Abuse button on offensive comments.
- Share what you know, ask about what you don't. Give us your eyewitness accounts, observations, background and history. Tell us what else you want to know about the story.
- Stay on the topic, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK, and forgive people their spelling errors.
Noozhawk's intent is not to limit the discussion of our stories but to elevate it. Thank you for your respectful participation. Click here for our complete Terms of Use.
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.
» on 01.10.10 @ 09:52 AM
It is almost impossible to read this opinion without gagging. But let me pose a question——Is it Sherlines opinion that conditions will improve if we allow ourselves to be ruled by the tyranny of the minority?
Of course not, because no matter how the issue is sliced the majority makes the rules. Otherwise every Tom, Dick and HARRY would set themselves up as the rule maker and that way we have anarchy, but consider(charitably) , this opinion suggests that we should dispense with majority rule.
From the tenor of the article it is apparent Sherline condones lying without consequences—-see tobacco.
He thinks that there is some agreement with disease that when it affects the sick, there is a silent agreement not to affect the well. He believes that people in need of medical attention should be allowed to suffer if they cannot pay for the necessary treatment——see health care
The anglo-saxon common law for almost the last 800 years, and more recently in 1776 has required government to provide for the common welfare (see the US constitution) and which is the basis for our legal system, permits government to take your property for public uses with just compensation.
But the biggest canard is about how we are overtaxed, in spite of the fact that the USA tax system is substantially lower than many industrial countries.In fact we get a good deal for our modest taxes, see the following.
Taxes provide us with substantial law and order, like police and courts, and the military for defense against invasion and insurrection, help in resisting the terrible effects of fires, both in public and private conflagrations, disease control, providing for oversight on the food supply chain, and a multitude of other agencies that relate to the general welfare of our citizens.
Lately I have come to the conclusion that utterances by the atavistic among us must be rebutted because there are impressionable minds that might think there is some sense in the remarks, particularly from the poorly thought out maunderings of Sherline and others who have a pen but no pensee.
» on 01.10.10 @ 03:47 PM
Harris starts his discussion of Taxes with the question: “Who are the rich?” He finds no answer and suggests no direction for inquire. This 147 word meandering is perhaps a rather long winded western koan in the manner of “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” I will ponder it over an expresso- the beverage of the elite.
Tomorrow I will consider the question: In what sense is a Litigation Settlement a Tax?
Enlightenment one expresso at a time.
» on 01.12.10 @ 12:40 AM
Uh, the heroin, cocaine, and marijuana industries also complain about `government control’ and restriction of their profit-making ability. I guess Harris Sherline would support free access to heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, particularly for elementary school students.
Harris Sherline make a comfortable living through outrageous overcharges in he Cottage Hospital system for crappy medical care. It is disgusting that he drone on about free behavior when his money comes from really poor value and overcharging of people in desperate need of care.
» on 01.15.10 @ 10:38 AM
Here is a description of the extortion similar to that which made Harris Sherline a rich hypocrite:
http://www.independent.com/news/2010/jan/06/all-marked/
More Local News »
Harris Sherline: We Have Met the Enemy, and It Is Us
At some point, local government will be forced to default on benefits the unions negotiated for their members
Harris Sherline: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? Part II
In politics, history shows that the more things change, the more they stay the same
Harris Sherline: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? Part I
As ugly as political discourse is today, it's not any worse than at other times in our history
Harris Sherline: Is Our Homeland Secure?
We all need to be prepared to take care of ourselves in the event of an attack or disaster
Harris Sherline: The Sky’s the Limit
Today's political leaders are no better than past generations at showing restraint in spending other people’s money
Weather: Fair 62.0º
Search Noozhawk »
