LAD/Blog #6: Federalist Paper #10

Federalist Paper #10

1.  What is a faction?
 A faction is a group of people with the same interest, often protesting against the government or standing up for their freedoms.  These political factions may be radical and small or even the majority of people.  Factions are fueled by a desire for different liberties. 

2.  Are factions good or bad?
 Factions are typically bad, because when these people with a common goal and interest unite together, their strength in numbers may lead them to commit bad crimes or fight strongly for what they personally believe in.

3.  Why are factions so difficult to eliminate?
Factions are so difficult to eliminate because they can only be dealt with by removing the causes of the faction, or by controlling its effects.  As a whole though, an entire faction is very hard to remove because all people will never think exactly the same way.  Differences in opinions will always exist, and therefore will always create more factions against the law or other beliefs (such as religion).

4.  If factions cannot be removed then how can they be controlled?
Factions can be controlled by ensuring that every person is treated the same way, and given the same rights and freedoms.  A second way of controlling a faction is by getting rid of the liberty or freedom that fuels the faction's existence.  Further, factions can be controlled even more by creating a republican form of government, and making the republic large would help to prevent the republic itself from turning into a faction.

The Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers are similar because they both promote certain political ideals, and impacted many even through they were only written by few.  The Federalist Papers were written to promote the ratification of the new constitution, and were used as a tool to persuade the public to support the new constitution.  Likewise, the Declaration of Independence was written to promote independence among the colonies, and to get them all on the same page so that they would be ready to fight against Britain.