What Mason meant by “popular government,”

1 Founding father and former president James Madison wrote, “A popular government without
popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or
perhaps both.”
Explain what you think Madison meant. In the paper, define “government,” “popular government,”
and “popular information.” Discuss the role of media in the dissemination of information to citizens
of this nation and whether or not media is now doing a good job. Further discuss the consequences
of little or no information, or disinformation. Could Madison be right about the poorly informed
playing a role in a national “farce” or “tragedy”?
2 Founding father and former president Thomas Jefferson wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant
and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”
Explain what you think Jefferson meant. In the paper define terms like “nation,” “ignorant,” “free,” and
“state of civilization.” Discuss the role of education and the importance of knowledge in a society
where people value independence and autonomy. Is the education system in this nation failing or
living up to a challenge of great magnitude? What are the consequences if Jefferson is right and a
significant number of people become functionally illiterate?