[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E481-E482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DOES THE MAJORITY ALWAYS WIN? BY ROBERT WARD

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that 
sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice 
to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the 
importance of being an active participant in the political process. 
Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics 
and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Robert Ward attends Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas. The essay 
topic is: Does the majority always win?

       Democracy: a system of government by the whole population 
     or all the eligible members of a state establish policy and 
     governance through a majority vote. Although we pride 
     ourselves as one of the finest democracies in the world we 
     don't and shouldn't exactly fit the formal definition of a 
     democracy presented above simply because minority rights and 
     national security are more important than majority wishes. I 
     would approach majority rule with the idea that the 
     constitutional rights of a minority and our national security 
     should never be compromised by a majority ruling.
       Following the civil war much discrimination still existed 
     and racists in our government found a crafty way of excluding 
     many African Americans whom they deemed unfit for suffrage by 
     enacting a poll tax. This tax, although seemingly fair 
     because it taxed all individuals the same amount to vote, was 
     directly targeted at African American who had recently been 
     emancipated from slavery and had minute sums of money to pay 
     to vote. This situation clearly demonstrates a time when the 
     majority rule (enacting a poll tax) was in direct violation 
     of minorities' constitutional right to unrepressed suffrage. 
     If I were elected this is exactly the state of affairs that I 
     would steer clear of in order to protect the liberties of all 
     citizens of the United States. Similar barriers to minority 
     suffrage such as literacy tests to vote or flat out 
     intimidation and harassment against minorities at voting 
     centers would not be acceptable under my watch.
       National security is another item that must never bow down 
     to majority will. For instance the patriot act, enacted 
     following the vicious attacks of 9/11, and those similar

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     to it should be upheld even against even majority rule 
     because they are directed with the intention of the well 
     being and safety of American citizens. Consider a 
     hypothetical situation where 90% of congress voted to have 
     key military technological advancements, such as the design 
     and engineering behind the black hawk helicopter, released to 
     the general public. Even if congress wasn't faced by 
     opposition from the executive branch, judicial review and 
     elected officials like my future self would fiercely oppose 
     this divulgence of such essential information because of the 
     great threat it would place on national security and military 
     supremacy. This is another situation where majority rule 
     would have to be denied.
       If I were elected as a prominent government official I 
     would strive to ensure that the liberties of the few and the 
     safety of the many are protected even from a majority ruling 
     in a proclaimed democracy to provide security and balance.

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