5 thoughts on ““Our Democracy”– The Socialists’ Plaintive Cry”
Excellent history. Indeed, the men at Philadelphia in 1787 were reacting to the excesses of democracy in the individual states, leading to scads of paper money and no one being able to collect honest debts. State legislatures after 1776 became large (& less aristocratic) and the most representative of the free populace (annual elections even) they were ever to be in American history.
Re “Democratic socialism”: Putting the adjective “democratic” in front of stealing doesn’t change the meaning of STEALING. Just connotes that it is being done by a mob.
J. Sobran, I think we have more reason to be concerned about “democracy” at this point than we have in a long time.
The US is described as both a republic and a democracy, as these terms are not mutually exclusive but rather describe complementary aspects of its governance.
The nation operates as a republican form of government that incorporates democratic principles. This means the U.S. is a constitutional republic, where elected representatives govern according to a supreme law, the Constitution, which protects individual rights and limits governmental authority.
The republican structure is characterized by the rule of law, elected representatives, and constitutional limits which provides stability and safeguards against the potential tyranny of a simple majority.
There’s the rub. Can we keep it ?
I’m not sure we ARE keeping it, Fred. But thanks for a great summary.
Fred, the Founders intention was to create a federal republic, for which there is a distinct meaning.
People call the US a democracy in much the same way Roman Emperor Augustus still called Rome a republic after he became its emperor.
People attach a connotation of divinity to “democracy.” That’s why they use the term all the time. Mob rule by any other name isn’t as sweet. But of course objectively, the US is a million miles from being a democracy, though that is the least of our problems.
Excellent history. Indeed, the men at Philadelphia in 1787 were reacting to the excesses of democracy in the individual states, leading to scads of paper money and no one being able to collect honest debts. State legislatures after 1776 became large (& less aristocratic) and the most representative of the free populace (annual elections even) they were ever to be in American history.
Re “Democratic socialism”: Putting the adjective “democratic” in front of stealing doesn’t change the meaning of STEALING. Just connotes that it is being done by a mob.
J. Sobran, I think we have more reason to be concerned about “democracy” at this point than we have in a long time.
The US is described as both a republic and a democracy, as these terms are not mutually exclusive but rather describe complementary aspects of its governance.
The nation operates as a republican form of government that incorporates democratic principles. This means the U.S. is a constitutional republic, where elected representatives govern according to a supreme law, the Constitution, which protects individual rights and limits governmental authority.
The republican structure is characterized by the rule of law, elected representatives, and constitutional limits which provides stability and safeguards against the potential tyranny of a simple majority.
There’s the rub. Can we keep it ?
I’m not sure we ARE keeping it, Fred. But thanks for a great summary.
Fred, the Founders intention was to create a federal republic, for which there is a distinct meaning.
People call the US a democracy in much the same way Roman Emperor Augustus still called Rome a republic after he became its emperor.
People attach a connotation of divinity to “democracy.” That’s why they use the term all the time. Mob rule by any other name isn’t as sweet. But of course objectively, the US is a million miles from being a democracy, though that is the least of our problems.