“We all love Thomas Paine. We just wish we liked him.” — Jonathan Turley
WASHINGTON — Why did the American Revolution flourish into a lasting democracy while the French Revolution descended into the Reign of Terror? That’s the central question explored by legal scholar Jonathan Turley in his new book, Rage and the Republic, and his answer hinges on what he calls James Madison’s “auxiliary precautions” – the constitutional safeguards designed to channel, rather than eliminate, societal anger. Published by Simon & Schuster on February 6, 2024, Turley’s work draws a stark parallel between the French Jacobin, Robespierre, and contemporary calls for radical changes to the U.S. Supreme Court and Senate, warning that dismantling these precautions could invite a similar descent into mob rule.
A History of Rage and Its Control
Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, argues that the American founders understood that rage is an inherent part of the human condition. Rather than attempting to suppress it, they built a system designed to manage and redirect it through institutions like a bicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and federalism. This approach, he contends, allowed for the peaceful expression of dissent and prevented the kind of violent upheaval that consumed France.
What were Madison’s “auxiliary precautions”? These were constitutional safeguards—like a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary—intended not to eliminate societal rage, but to channel it productively.
However, Turley’s analysis extends beyond historical comparison. He posits that 21st-century America faces a unique threat: the potential for a “kept population” – citizens financially supported by the state but disconnected from meaningful work and self-governance. This scenario, fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence and robotics, could create a breeding ground for resentment and instability, a mass Jacobin rage divorced from economic necessity.
The Looming Threat of a “Kept Population”
The prospect of widespread job displacement due to automation is a key concern for Turley. He suggests that a large segment of the population, reliant on government assistance, could become increasingly alienated and susceptible to radical ideologies. This echoes the conditions that preceded the French Revolution, where economic hardship and social inequality fueled popular unrest. He questions whether traditional solutions, like increased education, will be sufficient in a future where machines surpass human intelligence.
- Jonathan Turley’s Rage and the Republic examines the contrasting outcomes of the American and French Revolutions.
- The book highlights James Madison’s “auxiliary precautions” as crucial safeguards against societal rage.
- Turley warns of a potential “kept population” in the age of AI and automation, susceptible to radicalization.
- The author raises doubts about the effectiveness of traditional solutions like education in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The book doesn’t offer easy answers. Turley acknowledges the difficulty of confronting the pervasive anger in an increasingly unequal and potentially workless society. He challenges readers to consider how the Republic can maintain its stability in the face of these unprecedented challenges. Is simply advocating for more education a viable solution when machines may soon outpace human intellect? How do we address the simmering rage of a society grappling with widening economic disparities?
