Madison's definition of a faction in Federalist paper number 10 is a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interest of the community. This sounds good enough to me, but it did raise some questions.
1.) Is it good to have a minority/majority or is it better to be equal?
2.) Is every person living in the US represented in Madison's idea of a faction, or is it just people like him?
3.) Are your ideas just a little bit idealistic?
4.) What is the "permanent and aggregate interest of the community?"
5.) Would Madison still feel this way if he lived in the modern world?
To me, a faction is a particular group of people who feel very strongly and the same about an important issue.
We should talk tomorrow to agree on a schedule for making up last week's assignments.
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