1.) “Factions,” as written about in Federalist #10, remind me of the working class. More specifically, they call to mind the owning class’ view of the working class, class consciousness, solidarity, and rebellion; something that must be contained and controlled, for the benefit of the owning class.

2-3.) According to Federalist #10, the source of wealth is a person’s mental faculties. The only people who can become wealthy are those who are intelligent enough to find ways to do so. Intelligence was viewed as genetic, and heavily determined by race and sex.

I profoundly disagree with this explanation of wealth and poverty. It is inherently classist, racist, and sexist. It has no basis in science whatsoever. Many people are born into wealth and are not intelligent. Additionally, many wealthy people are intelligent only in that they are good at finding ways to exploit people. There are many different types of intelligence, and such a broad explanation is false and harmful.

4.) Governments first objective, according to Federalist #10, is “the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property.” That is, the protection of the rich’s (who are of superior intelligence) abilities to get rich, stay rich, and grow wealth. Protected, of course, against the interests of the poor, working class, viewed as inherently less intelligent. While this did sort of shock me at first, as it sunk in I was less surprised.

Society does not acknowledge this as the purpose of our government. Politicians commonly sell themselves as allies of the people. However, outside of some progressives, many of the establishment democrats and republicans often try to convince the public that the ultra rich (and subsequently their interests) are allies of the people, and that the pursuit of wealth is most important over everything. Because of the donations of corporations and billionaires, ultimately our government does work to protect their interests and their ability to grow more wealthy.

5. ) Federalist #10’s aversion to democracy is no surprise given the beliefs laid out in the text. A democratic government gives everyone, the working class included, the right to vote. Because of Madison’s classist belief that the working class were inherently unintelligent, it makes sense that he would not want them to have the power that they would under a democracy. Madison believed that democracy could not control the “mischief” of a faction. A republic “refines” the views of the public through elected officials, who posses their idea of intelligence, and who “best discern their country’s true interests.” Through a republic, the wealthy (who are smarter) are still allowed to have a disproportionate control of the government.