Federalist #10
1.) Factions are so impossible to eliminate because they must either be squashed by the force of tyranny, or end because everyone has the same opinion. The first is absolutely against the principles of American Democracy, and would likely result in factions simply becoming resistance movements. The second is impossible in a free society, as everyone will always have some difference of opinion based on their prior experiences and mindset.
2.) As the Papers say, factions can be controlled through a representative democracy (republic). The act of electing officials eliminates the mob mentality of factions, and ensures that only the wisest and most educated are in charge of government. This system alo helps to break down the ability of majority factions in a pure democracy to abuse and violate the rights of the minority.
(I compared this to today's partisan politics, as the political system is dominated by factions, but they can never quite gain the upper hand over each other for long periods of time).
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