We’ve Been an Experiment That Is About to End

[x]

Whatever the Framers original design was, things changed with the Jefferson/Jackson era and universal suffrage.

But the same things that are tearing us apart will eventually do the same to Russia and China.

[Dr. Sivana]

No even close.

If you are going to argue that ancient Athens wasn't a democracy, you should at least give a reason. The mechanism of ostracization alone was quite democratic. You will also have to correct a lot of the history books, including the ones that conservatives like from 100 years ago.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

The Iron Law of Oligarchy is unavoidable. We haven’t been a democracy for decades.

[Albion Wilde]

First, review the definition of epoch. I don’t think it means what you think it means.

Second, the U.S. is not a democracy. That is a marxist/Democrat talking point. We are a Constitutional republic. Democracy is only a part of the system.

Our Founders were wisely opposed to popular democracy and centralized control of government. They viewed the family and local society as the major source of governance.

[NormsRevenge]

Considering we have always had enemies both foreign and domestic seeking to destroy our Republic.

That we lasted this long is amazing in itself, so hard have so many labored to see the deed done and the grand experiment declared a failure.

We were never intended to be a mob-ruled nation, a democracy in the hands of idiots is nothing more than a tool to punish the citizens and control the masses to the nth degree.

[NormsRevenge]

Considering we have always had enemies both foreign and domestic seeking to destroy our Republic.

That we lasted this long is amazing in itself, so hard have so many labored to see the deed done and the grand experiment declared a failure.

We were never intended to be a mob-ruled nation, a democracy in the hands of idiots is nothing more than a tool to punish the citizens and control the masses to the nth degree.

[clearcarbon]

No, the vaccine will save all that takes it they will never die."

[9YearLurker]

Athens and the Roman Republic, to limited degrees of course.

[ExpatCanuck]

For all of you fixating on my use of the term ‘democracy’ vs. ‘constitutional republic’ or ‘epoch’ vs ‘apex’ or those who question my patriotism or my credentials to have an opinion because I’m Canadian, are you too anal retentive to understand what I am saying at a conceptual level? I’m scared about what I see happening to the greatest country on earth. And a special FU to the jack wagon who implied cowardice by Canadians in WWII. My grandfather served in the Pacific and North Africa and saw countrymen die while most Americans remained blissfully ignorant of the war until Pearl Harbor happened. This is my adopted country and I am grateful to be here and I love it and do not want to see it destroyed, yet that is what I am seeing happen before my eyes. My post was borne of despair, not criticism or weakness or cowardice as many responders implied.

[GreyHoundSailor]

And just look at how aggressive those sharks have become since then ):

[MHGinTN]

Oh my, clueless one, America WAS a Constitutional Republic. Go back to your room and study some more.

[ExpatCanuck]

According to historical records, true Democracy in its purest form lasted in Athens for a grand total of 80 years, between 462 and 322 BCE. Despite everything modern society owes them it was not an ideal society. And Roman conquest around 150 BCE killed it, but the seeds had been sown...

[Dr. Sivana]

Despite everything modern society owes them it was not an ideal society.

Only utopianists believe in an ideal society, and that leads to reigns of terror and gulags.

Some great stuff came out of Athens in that time period, though the democracy part was already breaking down, just as the Senate system in Rome was even before Caesar. Still, I think it is fair to consider ancient Athens to be a "true" Democracy. BTW, our Republic of States as originally envisioned at least by the Democratic-Republicans if not the Federalists was substantially changed after the War of 1861. The illusion of shared sovereignty was mostly settled by the war, changing the nature of the federation.