Posted on 04/03/2006 1:07:14 PM PDT by rellimpank
Afghan Christian learns firsthand about tyranny of majority
It was Woodrow Wilson who first asserted that the United States must involve herself in overseas wars to "keep the world safe for democracy."
The construction remains in style. Following the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the Bush administration, too, has justified military attacks overseas, designed to replace the oppressive governments of Afghanistan and Iraq, on the grounds that the world will be more stable, and America safer, if only we can install democracies in that benighted corner of the world.
In Afghanistan we have succeeded. The government of President Hamid Karzai may not be pure as the mountain streams, but it is, by the standards of the region, a democracy. And that's the problem.
America is not, and was never intended to be, a democracy. It is
(Excerpt) Read more at reviewjournal.com ...
With some, this difference is not just semantics, but an intentional plot to destroy our form of government so it becomes a democracy, then an oligarchy.
However, most would equate the word democracy with self-government. If I were a politician, I would use the latter phrase.
As to form of government, we are most definitely a republic (thank you John Adams)
--a few years ago, my esteemed senior Senator (Harry Reid) had to have this explained to him by a radio talk-show host--
bump for truth.
I was actually taught this in public school in rural Indiana in 1988. Our instructor was a young teacher sooo far left our class called him "Sergei". I can't even remember the guy's real name but I imagine he got reindoctrinated at some point to the party line of "republic equals democracy".
Great post.
A democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on whats for dinner!
Democracy is 3 wolves and a sheep voting on what is for dinner.
And a cacocracy is the left and right ends of the same turd arguing which end is going to float.
Ya make a good point there, P.
Term limits?
"Term limits?"
That would be a good start.
We're lucky to have been born into a country that has a Constitution. OTOH, our politicians, with the help of the people, seem intent on dismantling it as quickly as they can.
The paradox is that those who champion pure democracies usually have in mind a totalitarian state ruled by a select few. Which I guess is one reason why our founding fathers avoided it.
What is good about our republic is the sheep can carry a gun. - tom
A democracy according to the 1928 Army training manual:
A government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meeting of any form of direct expression. Results in mobocracy, attitude toward property is communistic - negating property rights.In 1952, the Soldiers Guide gave this definition of American government:Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to the consequences.
Results in demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy [Robert Welch, American Opinion, (Oct 1961), p.27]
Because the United States is a democracy, the majority of the people decide how our government will be organized and run - and that includes the Army, Navy and Air Force. The people do this by electing representatives, and these men and women then carry out the wishes of the people. [Robert Welch, American Opinion, (Oct 1961), p.27]At about the time of George Washington's farewell address, a British professor named Alexander Fraser Tyler wrote: "A democracy can not exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discovery that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a dictatorship."
I think it was Aristotle who said that a "democracy" was just a small step above anarchy,and he was right,IMO.
I would look at removing pension benefits from the compensation package of our elected officials. I think that would result in cleaner government by natural attrition.
Hurrah! Very well put. One of the most concise and yet complete descriptions I've read in a long time.
This is why I have always said that there is no difference between Republican and Democrat. They are different colors of the same animal.
Their job is to merely get elected and stay elected by whatever means necessary. It's all about votes, power and staying in "The Club". The rest is just smoke and mirrors to get us peasants to keep on voting.
Now, between Liberal and Conservative...big difference.
I know what you mean but if the voters don't do any thing about it nothing happens. Perhaps if the congressional staffs were wiped out at the end of the limited terms (and forbidden to hold any similar position) it would help--
By any definition, it's been a long time since this country was a "Constitutional Republic". Black-robed mullahs/clerics/judges rule most of this planet.....including this former Constitutional Republic.
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