No, the point he is making is that there’s a structure that must be respected, but once that structure and philosophy of governance have been abandoned in favor of an an individual who reflects and uses the passions of the mob (Trump, for example), it collapses and democracy becomes misrule -
As Adams said, “avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution,” because a democracy depends upon the moral and religious nature of its people and their willingness to adhere to the rule of law and not let themselves be swept away by their passions. The latter always ends up destroying their society and leaving them far worse off than they were, incidentally.
With all due respect to President Adams, the “avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness” of the GOPe ain’t doing much for the country right now!
Exactly an Adams would have nothing but contempt for those of you so swept up in your passionate hate for Trump you have refused to think a single rational thought about him in months.
“and uses the passions of the mob (Trump, for example), it collapses and democracy becomes misrule”
Oh, so Freepers who support Trump are a mob; mindless, savage sans culottes rampaging through the streets looking for queens to behead. Very flattering.
I’ll bet your opinion of most of those Freepers was much higher until Trump, the essential deus ex machina, swung in from the wings to offer salvation from the irredeemably depraved and corrupt American political class.
You say such mean things about us now, but the problem is that you just don’t get it.
“As Adams said, “avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness...”
Yes, that describes Trump’s supporters to a T. Thanks again. And we know those things motivate Trump: avarice because he won’t rest until he makes a million bucks; ambition because he is clearly motivated to become a well-known public figure; we know he is vengeful because of the endless parade of his victims who have come forward to denounce him; and licentiousness clearly motivates him because he cannot possibly obtain the favors of members of the contrary gender until he attains high elective office.
I have my own reasons for reserving a degree of skepticism regarding Trump’s actual intentions should he be elected, but some people are just making stuff up.
In the final analysis, Trump is the only one who even *might* put the good of the country first. None of the loathsome political serpents in the race would even place it as high as fourth.