The Constitution: Elite Protection Or Mass Empowerment?

The U.S. Constitution has been criticised for protecting the interests of the economic elite, rather than the masses. The document was written by 55 of the richest white men of the early United States, and signed by only 39 of them. It has been argued that the Constitution was intentionally designed to impede political and economic democracy, and to protect the capitalist economy from democratic control. The Constitution has also been criticised for creating a perpetual power of the elite minority to check the will of the majority. This has led to roadblocks and obstructions that make significant change impossible without the consent of the elite minority.

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The Constitution was designed to protect capitalism for the elites

The US Constitution has been described as a rulebook to protect capitalism for the elites. Written by 55 of the richest white men of the early United States, the Constitution was designed to impede political democracy and prevent economic democracy. It was created to establish a perpetual power of the elite minority to check the will of the majority. This was celebrated by Hamilton and Madison, who wished to divide the population so sufficiently that they couldn't join forces.

The Constitution was also designed to protect the rule of property against economic democracy. This was to protect the material interests of the elite. It has been argued that the system isn't broken, but rather works as it was designed. Universal white male suffrage, the abolition of slavery, Reconstruction, Populist and Progressive Era reforms, women's suffrage, rights for workers, the civil rights movement, ending the Vietnam War, environmental protections, and rights for LGBT people were not benevolently given but were won by force.

The Constitution was also designed to protect the government and the capitalist economy from democratic control. This was achieved through the establishment of power-sharing arrangements between similarly powerful groups within the economic elite. These groups put in place checks and balances to the central government to protect their economic interests. However, these elite compromises are not likely to include the type of power-sharing institutions that allow for the participation of a wide variety of actors, including ethnic and religious minorities and the most vulnerable groups in society, in decision-making processes.

The Framers designed the Constitution to create a perpetual power of the elite minority

The U.S. Constitution has been described as a rulebook to protect capitalism for the elites. Written by 55 of the richest white men of the early United States, the Constitution was designed to impede political democracy and prevent economic democracy. It was created to protect the rule of property against economic democracy. The Framers designed the Constitution to create a perpetual power of the elite minority to check the will of the majority. This was celebrated by Hamilton and Madison, who wished to divide the population so sufficiently that they couldn't join forces.

The Constitution was not designed to be easily changed. It was purposefully inefficient, to protect the government and the capitalist economy from democratic control. Change can only be made by tearing up the rule book and starting over again from the bottom up. Universal white male suffrage, the abolition of slavery, Reconstruction, Populist and Progressive Era reforms, women's suffrage, rights for workers, the civil rights movement, ending the Vietnam War, environmental protections, and rights for LGBT people were not benevolently given but were won by force.

The Constitution was also designed to protect the economic interests of the elite. In countries where the economic elite is fragmented into multiple, similarly powerful groups, it is more likely to observe an elite compromise regarding the establishment of power-sharing arrangements. These groups can protect their economic interests by controlling subnational policy arenas and putting in place checks and balances to the central government. However, because they seek to protect their material interests, these compromises are unlikely to include the type of power-sharing institutions that allow for the participation of a wide variety of actors, including ethnic, religious minorities and the most vulnerable groups in society in decision-making processes.

The Constitution was designed to impede political democracy and prevent economic democracy

The US Constitution was designed to protect the interests of the elite. Written by 55 of the richest white men of the early United States, the Constitution was intentionally designed to impede political democracy and prevent economic democracy.

The Constitution was designed to protect capitalism for the elites. The rule of property is protected against economic democracy. The Framers designed the Constitution to create a perpetual power of the elite minority to check the will of the majority. This was celebrated by Hamilton and Madison, who wished to divide the population so sufficiently that they couldn't effectively join forces with one another across differing secondary interests.

The system of government is mined with countless roadblocks and obstructions that make significant change impossible. Change can only be made by tearing up the rule book and starting over again from the bottom up. Universal white male suffrage, the abolition of slavery, Reconstruction, Populist and Progressive Era reforms, women's suffrage, rights for workers, the civil rights movement, ending the Vietnam War, environmental protections, and rights for LGBT people were not benevolently given but were won by force.

This is consistent with the notion that, in countries in which the economic elite is fragmented into multiple, similarly powerful groups, it is more likely to observe an elite compromise regarding the establishment of power-sharing arrangements. Specifically, we see a higher likelihood of institutional mechanisms that enable these groups to protect their economic interests by controlling subnational policy arenas and putting in place checks and balances to the central government.

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The Constitution was designed to protect the rule of property against economic democracy

The U.S. Constitution has been described as a rulebook to protect capitalism for the elites. Written by 55 of the richest white men of the early United States, the Constitution is the sacred text of U.S. nationalism. The Framers designed the Constitution to create a perpetual power of the elite minority to check the will of the majority. This was celebrated by Hamilton and Madison, who wished to divide the population so sufficiently that they couldn't effectively join forces with one another across differing secondary interests.

The Constitution was intentionally designed to impede political democracy and prevent economic democracy. The rule of property is protected against economic democracy. The system of government is mined with countless roadblocks and obstructions that make significant change impossible. Change can only be made by tearing up the rule book and starting over again from the bottom up.

The Constitution works as it was designed. Universal white male suffrage, the abolition of slavery, Reconstruction, Populist and Progressive Era reforms, women’s suffrage, rights for workers, the civil rights movement, ending the Vietnam War, environmental protections, and rights for LGBT people were not benevolently given but were won by force.

In countries in which the economic elite is fragmented in multiple, similarly powerful groups, it is more likely to observe an elite compromise regarding the establishment of power-sharing arrangements. Specifically, we see a higher likelihood of institutional mechanisms that enable these groups to protect their economic interests by controlling subnational policy arenas and putting in place checks and balances to the central government.

The Constitution was designed to protect the material interests of the economic elite

The U.S. Constitution has been described as a rulebook to protect capitalism for the elites. Written by 55 of the richest white men of the early United States, the Constitution was designed to impede political democracy and prevent economic democracy. The Framers designed the Constitution to create a perpetual power of the elite minority to check the will of the majority. This was celebrated by Hamilton and Madison, who wished to divide the population so sufficiently that they couldn't effectively join forces with one another across differing secondary interests.

The Constitution was intentionally designed to protect the material interests of the economic elite. It was created to protect both government and the capitalist economy from democratic control. The rule of property is protected against economic democracy. The Constitution's design is purposefully inefficient, and change can only be made by tearing up the rule book and starting over again from the bottom up.

The Constitution works as it was designed. Universal white male suffrage, the abolition of slavery, Reconstruction, Populist and Progressive Era reforms, women's suffrage, rights for workers, the civil rights movement, ending the Vietnam War, environmental protections, and rights for LGBT people were not benevolently given but were won by force. The economic elite is fragmented into multiple, similarly powerful groups, and it is more likely that these groups will observe an elite compromise regarding the establishment of power-sharing arrangements. These groups can protect their economic interests by controlling subnational policy arenas and putting in place checks and balances to the central government. However, because they seek to protect their material interests, elite compromises are unlikely to include the type of power-sharing institutions that allow for the participation of a wide variety of actors, including ethnic and religious minorities and the most vulnerable groups in society in decision-making processes.

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