Posted on 02/22/2017 9:05:31 AM PST by Oldpuppymax
During my middle and high school years, I found it strange to say a pledge to the United States flag “and to the republic for which it stands,” while in the same class being taught the United States was a democracy. The teacher would correct my inquisitive nature by stating, “It’s semantics. Democracy and republic are really the same thing. The United States is a democratic republic.” Not satisfied with that justification of semantics and nuance, I continued to explore and discover the difference between U.S. republic and democracy and I’m still exploring it today.
From whom did the Framers derive the plan for America’s unique, republican form of government?
In his book Republic (Greek: Politeia), Plato argues the definition of justice and the role of the city and the individual in discovering the definition of justice (Book I & II). He defends educating the ‘Guardians’ of a just city (the collective) at an early age (Book III & IV). And in his ‘just city’, no distinction exists between man or woman, families, marriage, private property and he proclaims the best form of government consists of philosopher kings (i.e. truth seekers, incorruptible, just men, etc.) who are the best rulers for this “good city” (Book VI-X).
Cicero, in his work Of Republic (Latin: De Re Publica), defined republic as ‘property of the public’ (Book 1: 39). He surmised that the ideal form of government was to mix monarchy, aristocracy and democracy together (Book 1: 53). In Cicero’s view, leadership of this ‘ideal’ form of government was best left to nobility (the aristocracy/the Senate) to govern the perfect republic.
John Adams, in his 1786 effort A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States, explores republican forms of government throughout world history. During the 1787 U.S. Constitutional convention...
(Excerpt) Read more at thecoachsteam.com ...
A constitution based republic with a strong democratic leaning. Now, I’ll go read the article.
Bttt.
5.56mm
A republic was created with a weak federal government to do specific enumerated things only and strong state governments do legislate almost everything else. Lincoln’s war f-ed that all up.
In USA, the government is chartered to do specific things, only. If the people want government to do more, they must amend USConstitution. USConstitution is the supreme law of USA government and the land; it defines governments purpose and limits; so it is a charter or a contract. Changing the constitution is much harder to do than a mere 51% vote. The result is laws which adhere to the constitution, which do not deviate from the agreed upon purpose and limits of government, unless we decide we want to change that purpose or the limits. Then the constitution can be amended or replaced completely in a manner allowed by the current constitution.
In a democracy, with a simple 51% vote, government can do anything it wants. The people have no protection from moment to moment, emotional, temporary decisions. This allows subversives to incite or stage events to sway the government into doing things, which actually are to the peoples detriment. Stated another way, legislation is easier to create by far, than to undo.
A proper Constitutional Republic, is a house built on a rock; an actual foundation.
A democracy is a house built on shifting sand.
It started out as a republic but is, in modern times, more of a nation-state. Thanks to things like the Gonzales v Raich interpretation of the Commerce Clause (thanks a lot, George Bush), the last barriers to federal intrusion into state governance have been blown down. There is nothing between us, for all practical purposes, and the feds. Call it a republic if you like, but I call it a nation-state.
The notion that all power not enumerated to the federal government in the Constitution is reserved for the states was the tent pole holding the circus canvas off the audience in the stands. It’s gone, bubba.
Not for nothing are the two major parties called “Democrats” and “Republicans.”
Not this tired old chestnut again.
Nowhere (authoritative) is it written that a republic can’t also be democratic. Saying that America isn’t a democracy is like saying Michael Phelps can’t run because he’s a swimmer.
An indirect democracy is still a democracy. But that isn’t a bad thing since a direct democracy eventually and invariably devolves into mob rule.
Very rarely does any government fit neatly into any single pigeonhole. The US is a democratic constitutional federal republic with elements of meritocracy, technocracy, oligarchy and theocracy, plus a soupçon of socialism.
Get over it, America IS a Democracy.
Add to my previous:
In USA, the government is chartered to do specific things, only. If the people want government to do more, they must amend USConstitution. USConstitution is the supreme law of USA government and the land; it defines governments purpose and limits; so it is a charter or a contract. Changing the constitution is much harder to do than a mere 51% vote. The result is laws which adhere to the constitution, which do not deviate from the agreed upon purpose and limits of government, unless we decide we want to change that purpose or the limits. Then the constitution can be amended or replaced completely in a manner allowed by the current constitution.
In a democracy, with a simple 51% vote, government can do anything it wants. The people have no protection from moment to moment, emotional, temporary decisions. This allows subversives to incite or stage events to sway the government into enacting things, which actually are to the peoples detriment. Even the political vote, which provides the current batch of elected officials, is a temporary, moment to moment change, which sways back-n-forth over time. Stated another way, legislation is easier to create by far, than to undo.
A proper Constitutional Republic, is a house built on a rock; an actual foundation.
A democracy is a house built on shifting sand.
Of course you’re right. It’s a silly, pedantic posture to take. Republics are subsets of democracy, not stand-alone constructs.
In USA, the government is chartered to do specific things, only. If the people want government to do more, they must amend US Constitution.
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