Practice 8　　Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.　　We must seriously question the idea of majority rule. The majority grinned and jeered when Columbus said the world was round. The majority threw him into a dungeon for his discoveries. Where is the logic in the notion that the opinion held by a majority of people should have the power to influence our decisions?　　Adapted from James A. Reed, Majority Rule　　Assignment: Is the opinion of the majority—in government or in any other circumstances—a poor guide? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observation.

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“There is safety in numbers.” This old saying illustrates how comforting it can be to know that the majority is on your side and that you are not alone in your endeavor. When you are attempting to climb a mountain, or explore a hidden cave, or maneuver a football down field for a score, you certainly want a majority of your comrades to be there with you, urging you on and assisting in your quest. But when it comes to making important decisions, whether in your private or public life, a simple majority vote will not always be your best guide; indeed, in many cases, the majority may very well be wrong.
Take the case of an intelligent high school student who wants to be popular with her classmates. She could decide to be true to herself and join the other equally intelligent students who comprise the “nerd” minority at her school. But most likely she will be more attracted to the styles and behaviors of the majority—those students who think studying is for geeks, who are more concerned about the latest fashions than the latest ideas, and who may very well encourage her to experiment with drinking and drugs. The pressure of the peer majority is often irresistible.
Consider also the reaction of the majority of people to unfamiliar or suspicious behavior. A majority of people living in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 decided that 19 men and women were practicing witchcraft (based on the testimony of a few mean-spirited and histrionic girls) and carried them off to the gallows to be hanged. When Galileo dared to suggest (based on his factual observations) that the earth was NOT the center of the universe, a majority of Catholic Church fathers accused him of heresy.
Lastly, when it comes to the concept of “majority rule” in governmental institutions, how often have the results been skewed by the majority’s inability to think rationally and act reasonably? Average Germans in the 1930s gave their support to a new leader who they thought would lead them out of the economic bankruptcy caused by World War I. A majority voted for Adolf Hitler. Tyrants do not always take control of their countries by themselves; often they are elected by the very people they will later persecute. Yes, there may be “safety” in numbers, but there is no guarantee they will be fight.

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