• The concept of faction reminds me of social class conflict. In the federalist papers, James Madison described factions as groups of people that are united by a common interest that could threaten the rights or stability of the government. 
  • James Madison argues the primary source of wealth is the unequal distribution of faculties which means the natural differences in people’s abilities, talent and ambition. He states that individuals possess different levels of intelligence skills and work ethics which naturally lead to economic disparities. He writes ”The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government” 
  • I agree with Madison that differences in people‘s abilities, ambitions and efforts can lead to unequal outcomes and wealth. It’s true that some individuals gain more property because of their talents or hard work; however, his view also overlooks the important factors that also affect poverty, such as access to education, family background, discrimination, and economic systems. These can limit opportunities for some people, no matter how capable, ambitious or talented. While personal differences matter, the roles of systemic and social factors cannot be overlooked in the role of economic inequality. 
  • The primary goal or ‘fist object’ of the United States was protecting people’s unequal facilities, particularly the ability to own property. This comes as a surprise considering how much emphasis is put on government functions today such as offering public services, ensuring equal opportunity, and assisting in the fight against inequality. While protecting property is still a part of the government’s duty, people today expect it to do more than simply protect money, they believe it should guarantee support, fairness, and accessibility.
  • No, it was made clear that the author wanted there to be a clear separation between the wealthy and working class. The author feared that in a democracy, which was largely the lower class, would unite and enact laws that would strip the affluent minority of their power. This was a concern for him because he believed that the government’s function was to preserve property. 

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