tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post8126611416142066740..comments2023-09-11T08:58:24.710-06:00Comments on Reach Upward: The Federal Happiness CodeScott Hinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-10114537436864788642007-11-19T07:59:00.000-07:002007-11-19T07:59:00.000-07:00I agree that government can make sure it does noth...I agree that government can make sure it does nothing to infringe on our right to pursue happiness. But I disagree that government can make rules to make us happy. The only way it can circumvent coercion in its efforts to secure happiness for the governed is to ensure that there is extremely broad consensus on specific points.<BR/><BR/>A simple majority won't cut it. Even a two-thirds majority won't cut it. There will still be significant portions of the population that will be coerced into having somebody's vision of happiness shoved down their throats.<BR/><BR/>For this reason, government should be confined to action on items where very broad consensus can be achieved. Even then, however, we must be careful of creating a tyranny of the majority over a small minority.Scott Hinrichshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-21697144566643307702007-11-18T11:21:00.000-07:002007-11-18T11:21:00.000-07:00If men (and women one presumes) are "endowed by th...If men (and women one presumes) are "endowed by their Creator" with a right to the "pursuit of happiness", and governments "derive their just powers" from the "consent of the governed", then why should the governed be prevented from using the just powers of their government to assist in their pursuit of happiness?<BR/><BR/>Certainly government cannot make us happy, but it can certainly make us very unhappy (as the Founders were under King George), and it can assist in our pursuit of happiness without being coercive. A government that employs coercion on the governed is not a democracy and is not Constitutional. A government that permits, encourages and enables its citizens to pursue happiness is much preferable to one that says "you're own your own, we refuse to help".Charles Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02975241234146573609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-27692744869332410712007-11-15T18:40:00.000-07:002007-11-15T18:40:00.000-07:00I have to agree with you, I don't think that wakin...I have to agree with you, I don't think that waking up to see police officers lugging around the "Jump-for-Joy Bazooka" would be a sight anyone would want to see. I also have to say that unhappiness is vital to our happiness. Going through a trial can make us feel better at the end. I don't think that I would be happy for being chucked in jail, just because my happiness was up to standard that day. I don't like doing some things, but Ido them anyways, knowing I'll be happier if I do it now and don't have to face the consequences later. I also have to say that pain is one of the best teachers in the universe. If it hurts, don't do it again. This could evolve into a society where little Jimmy could be taken tould Juvie because he poked his finger on a knife and didn't like it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com