TQ takes on Wisconsin

It was indeed a shocking sight to be tranported to a scene of such near anarchy.  When I first wrote of American Democracy, I had worried that such an event would eventually take place. As I then wrote, “unlimitred freedom of association for political ends is, of all forms of liberty, the last that a nation can sustain”(193).    When the ruling of a government is placed in the hands of a large people for whom the education level is of a middling sort, and whererin the minority is constantly trying to become a majority and thus have their voices heard, freedom of association forever draws near to anarchy.  But several months ago in Madison, Wisconsin I finally saw the near-anarchy I had worried about as thousands of citizens gathered to protest a bill which would severely limit union workers’ collective bargaining rights.  State educators ignored their own duties and contracts, harming the very educational system to exercise their freedom to associate.  Legislators fled the state, and the streets were blocked with protestors flooding towards the capitol.  Luckily for American democracy, the situation did not explode into violence or an overthrow of the government.  However, I am disappointed, considering the large proportions to which the protests and associations grew, that the Wisconsin people were unable to alter the majority’s position.  I may not agree to the extent they used their protests, endangering the social fabric of their state, but I stand by their principles.   When the minority is able to form together with enough support to cause schools to shut down and the nation to watch, the majority, in a democracy, should concede to some alterations in their laws.   This is what I have always valued about American Democracy:  the ability of ordinary people to join together to get what they need done.  In this case, such efforts were a failure, although minority groups continue to work for recall elections with adamant protests and associations.   I appreciate their continued efforts to do what they feel is best for their society, although for the sake of Wisconsin I do hope that such political association does not  grow again to such dangerous anarchical heights in the near future. -Alexis de Tocqueville