…besides the obvious reason that children vastly outnumber adults here. I mean, should we vote on school attendance? or curriculum? chores? whether or not to buy a Playstation?

Even “safe” things that I try to put up for “vote” won’t work out equitably in the end.

The waffles vs. pancakes vote would usually go in favor of pancakes…and one kid who prefers waffles would have to settle.

The sausage vs. bacon issue would go to sausage…and that same waffle kid would lose out here as well.

What flavor ice cream?
Where to eat dinner?
What TV show to watch?

Compromise assumes that sometimes you give and sometimes you get. But what if the majority rule means you never get your way? What if another sibling is particularly good at manipulating the preschool vote to go his way?

Can we see how this applies to the real world? Is the majority rule always fair? Are some organizations particularly good at manipulating votes?

Like school and chores and other weighty matters, there are some things that aren’t votable: the Bill of Rights. But even in less serious subjects (taxes, health insurance, even prayer in schools), we have to recognize that a vote might not be just.

Apply that to the left or the right as you see fit.

For breakfast, I served both waffles and pancakes. And the grown ups ate this.