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.
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.