Majorities and minorities

Ice cream by eye color	Yes	No
Blue	16	43
Brown	224	151

Suppose we asked a few more than 400 people whether they preferred strawberry ice cream over chocolate and, as they answered we also noted their eye color. If eye color was related to their preference, we’d see disproportionally more folks with one eye color saying “Yes.” In fact, the data might look something like those in the yellow table. Following the majority-rule concept, we’d conclude that people prefer strawberry to chocolate.

Of course, such a conclusion hides something pretty intriguing. The preference differs depending on the color of the respondents’ eyes. We might still agree that the majority prefers strawberry, but following the majority runs quite clearly counter to the interests of the minority, no? Why, we might wonder, is there this difference? Is there something to be learned from the minority?

Stupak-Pitts by gender	Yes	No
Female	16	43
Male	224	151

As far as tastes in ice cream, there’s probably not much of importance. However, the data in the table are not actually about ice cream preferences. I took those numbers from the vote by members of the US House of Representatives on the Stupak Amendment to HR 3962, the “Affordable Health Care for America Act.” Representative Bart Stupak (with Representative Joe Pitts) proposed an amendment that restricted coverage of abortions under the health care plan; insurance plans that are purchased with government subsidies may not cover abortions. That includes privately purchased health care insurance. The amendment passed with strong support from men, but not from women.

Over 70% of female representives, who may not be the minority in the population but are in the House of Representatives, voted against the Stupak-Pitts amendment (see blue table). Nearly 60% of male representatives voted in favor of it. It appears to me that those women must know something those men don’t know. More importantly, it appears to me that the majority’s decision has run counter to the expressed concern of the minority. ‘Majority rule’ is a good thing, but in our system it has to be accompanied by protection of the minority’s rights.

Now, the analogy to eye color doesn’t really fit well. One chooses neither her eye color nor gender, to be sure. However, requiring blue-eyed people to eat strawberry ice cream isn’t as much of a big deal as requiring women to live with laws restricting their access to health-care procedures.

I am sorry to report that our representative, Tom Perriello, was among the 224 men who voted to restrict insurance coverage for abortions.

Although one can find these data in a lot of places here is a source for them. In case there’s a statistically intrigued reader, the chi square of 21.94 with 1 degree of freedom is significant with a probability of 0.00000282. (I understand that the p value is not an index of the strength of the relationship.)

While I’m at it, here, please take a few minutes to see how some of the erstwhile debate about the health care legislation went.

Mr Deity returns

As one or two of the two or three regular readers know, I’m impressed by the Mr. Deity shorts. Well, after a delay following the second season, the third season is available. I recommend it.

Brandeis on freedom

I came upon a quotation that I remember admiring previously. Because I thought it timely given some current events in the US, I thought I’d post it here. In his dissent in the case of Olmstead v. United States (277 U.S. 479, 1928) Mr. Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote this.

The defendant’s objections to the evidence obtained by wire-tapping must, in my opinion, be sustained. It is, of course, immaterial where the physical connection with the telephone wires leading into the defendant’s premises was made. And it is also immaterial that the intrusion was in aid of law enforcement. Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.

From the EFF newsletter chocked full of quotes.

HB, H. D. Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau
(public domain image)

On this day in 1817, Henry David Thoreau drew his first breath in Concord (MA, US). Among his many accomplishments, one that I especially admire was his essay entitled “Resistance to Civil Government,” which was published in 1849 as “Civil Disobedience” in Aesthetic Papers. In his venerated discussion of government and individual responsibility, Mr. Thoreau set an important standard for generations that followed his.

Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them?

Visit the Thoreau Society. Link to the Thoreau Reader (courtesy of Iowa State University) where one can read “Civil Disobedience.”

Marvin Gaye’s anthem

For the 1983 all-star game of the National Basketball Association, Marvin Gaye sang the US national anthem, the “Star Spangled Banner.” At that time, the anthem had rarely been sung in any way but quite straightly, one exception being the rendition by Jose Feliciano. Mr. Gaye, an artist with a repretoire that included songs about peace, brotherhood, ecology, as well as love and loss, put his spin on the performance. I suspect many readers will agree with me about that it’s an inspirational performance.

Sacagawea promoted

After many years of questioning her depiction in a statue of the Corps of Discovery, people in Charlottesville got a chance to recognize Sacagawea’s contribution to US history on 19 June 2009. Accompanied by descendants of Sacagawea and local Native American’s who hosted their visit, dignitaries of the local government unveiled a plaque honoring her part in the exploration of the north american continent by M. Lewis and W. Clark.

Although many folks have remarked about possible interpretations of Sacagawea’s depiction in the statue, clear and public expressions of concern about the statue by a few local citizens (especially Camille Cooper and Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell) encouraged the city government to install a plaque next to it commemorating her role in the epic exploration. Rachana Dixit reported the story for the C’ville Daily Progress. There’s lots more on the Internet, as these searches from Goog and Bing reveal. (Also see earlier posts here for additional notes; use the search feature in the navigation bar.)

Gandhi Summer Camp

Here’s one that’d be interesting to follow:

The second annual JMU Gandhi Center Children’s Global Nonviolence Summer Camp will be held August 17 – 21, 2009 at James Madison University, Harrisonburg.

The camp will prepare children ages 8 to 12 to appreciate

• - the value of nonviolence,
• - the potential of nonviolent action to address conflicts,
• - the value of personal and social responsibility,
• - the interconnected nature of human experience, and
• - the planet’s natural environment

as they participate in an eclectic blend of exciting activities.

The program, registration form, and other information is available at:

http://www.jmu.edu/gandhicenter/summercamp.shtml

Sacagawea recognized

Lewis-Clark-Sacagawea statue

A celebration commemorating the unveiling of a historic marker honoring Sacajawea, the Lemhi Shoshone woman who made important contributions to the success of the exploration by M. Lewis and W. Clark (and their “corps of discovery”), will be held 19 June 2009 in Charlottesville. The event, which will be open to the public, is to be begin at 1:00 PM at the site of the Lewis and Clark Statue (McIntire and West Main, Charlottesville). For those who are unfamiliar with the neighborhood, there’s a map appended to this post.

This latest development reflects concern local citizens have expressed about the statue and, more importantly, the portrayal of many people who have made unrecognized contributions to US history and culture. If either of my two current readers can remember something beyond yesterday, she’ll recall that I posted a couple of notes about this statue and others’ responses to it over the years.

The city of Charlottesville has a page about the event. There is also a PDF about the event (download). My earlier posts were “Sacagawea Day” (9 October 2007) and “More on Sacagawea” (7 July 2008)

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