He continued, “our government ought to secure the permanent interests of the country against innovation,” putting in place checks and balances in order to “protect the minority of the opulent against the majority.”

Those “without property, or the hope of acquiring it, cannot be expected to sympathize sufficiently with its rights.”

Kind of disturbing — basically limiting democracy to protect the rich and maintain the economic status quo.

Anyway, I still think the constitution is a pretty amazing document, and I like Madison fine. But most of those founding father guys were all for democracy and freedom as long as it didn’t threaten their privileged positions.