Posted on 12/26/2016 2:10:30 AM PST by Jacquerie
Despite our best efforts, we occasionally stumble along the way of life. On the discovery of our mistakes, we correct them, learn, move on, and hopefully avoid repetition. As our capacity to learn improves with age, we learn from the mistakes others as well. But, perhaps the wisest among us learn from the successes of others. To avoid as many of life’s natural pitfalls as possible, pay attention to the examples of the successful, good, and virtuous.
That which applies to our personal lives extends to society and that expression of society, republican government. Few republican governments of any extended life, all of which exist for the general welfare of the society that created them, didn’t stumble into errors or need improvement.
Among long-lived republics, the law given to Sparta by Lycurgus included a senate composed of elders, the Gerousia, to advise the two Spartan kings. Further refinement of Sparta’s middle institutions, those between the people and kings, arrived a hundred and thirty years later in the form of Ephors, an annually appointed body of aristocrats.
In contrast to Sparta, Athens did not adequately adjust her governing institutions and provide for an appropriate middle institution. In his Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, John Adams attributed Athens’ relatively short duration to “. . .want of tempering democracy with a share of aristocracy. . .”
No republic demonstrated the ability to adjust its governing forms to meet contingencies like the Republic of Rome. From kings, to a senate, to consuls, to tyranny under Decimviri, Roman government eventually achieved proper balance when it established tribunes of the people.
(Excerpt) Read more at articlevblog.com ...
Article V ping!
I myself do not want an aristocratic Senate. I would rather die than be ruled by heriditary lords. If the America Republic falls and our government becomes a feudal tyranny ruled by heriditary robber-barons then I will be the first revolutionary.
The Roman republic fell... due to its own drawbacks. It’s hardly an example to follow.
I will second that
true words
The House of Lords?
All the more reason to leave alone the documents the Founders have given us. If you are weighed down by the false belief that God had nothing to do with the Founders and their Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, then by all means attempt to exercise that tiny portion of the Constitution, that allows for amendments proposed by the people and run the risk of producing something influenced by 200 plus years of liberal, progressive government and bolstered by a government entirely uninterested in the Freedom and Liberty the Founders were so desirous of maintaining through the the means of Government.
Repealing the 17th Amendment is the place to start to restoring the republic, the direct opposite of aristocracy.
And then the 19th immediately thereafter.
The time is ripe for the 17th to go away, but in today’s world, I just do not see the 19th done away with.
I’m not against the idea, but with 1/2 the voters women, the other half mostly either henpecked, fagged or trannied, it just won’t happen.
How much of that phrase is a term of art, as opposed to a reference to the Bourgeoisie Elite of Washington DC?
Let me offer a hypothetical:
Suppose we were from a small state whose main economy was a steel mill and the ore mines that supply it. Whom should we prefer to represent our state in the Senate: 1) a pre-17th amendment selection of an heir to the steel mill, or 2) a post-17th amendment politician who aligned with a national party to receive campaign funds from a large state like New York to outspend his opponent?
The 17th amendment did more than just appear to break up "aristocracy" in the Senate; it forced elections onto the Senators. In order to compete in those elections, the Senators must constantly solicit financing. That financing comes from many sources, most NOT aligned with the interests of the state.
Back to our hypothetical, should we expect the heir to the steel mill to have more concern about legislation protecting the steel mill and the supplying mines than, say, bathroom equality? If the steel heir personally benefits from the success of the steel mill, don't the citizens of our state also benefit from the economy it produces and sustains? Would our steel heir support a liberal party's signature "green" legislation that would shut down our mines and send our steel production overseas?
I think the 17th amendment is was gave teeth to national bloc party politics. Today, Senators are beholden to the Party apparatus for their campaign funding, so their first loyalties are to party leaders and not state legislators. In exchange for campaign financing, Senators are expected to support a party agenda that is often in direct opposition to the interests of the people in their states.
-PJ
Hereditary power is everywhere and always the enemy of freedom.
Oh, I am all for the state legislatures controlling the election of US Senators, I just don’t want aristocrats ruling my life regardless of how they get into office.
Responding to titles alone, a common malady at FR, is the enemy of intelligent posts.
We have one.
I would rather we just put the names of every citizen over 30 that is a resident of that state and drew two names at random.
For some reason having a senate filled with people who are selected by the political machines in big cities just is not working.
No, it is oligarchic.
We would be better off if it was oligarchic but aristocratic is what we have now.
Words have meaning.
The 17th Amendment needs to be repealed in order to restore the rights of states in the federal sphere and to restore our true Republic.
We aren’t going to get far in the U.S. by using the term aristocracy tho. The make-up of the Senate as the protector of the States can’t be over-emphasized. The appointment of Senators by State Legislators is too important to have it bogged down in terminology that Americans won’t accept.
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