I once defined ‘democracy’ as ‘A monarchy of the masses.’
I still do....
A better characterization that sticks with the kids is:
Democracy is two wolves and a chicken deciding what’s for dinner.
A Republic is where the Chicken has a gun.
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The founders knew in the 18th and 19th centuries from the tomes of the history of western civilization, from ancient Greece to the rise and fall of Rome, that democracy always ALWAYS leads to tyranny. It always fails, why?
Because democratic societies end up voting for those who feed them and when the food stops, revolution ensues usually under the guise of a ‘Strong Man With A Plan’, in other words the tyrant waiting in the wings.
A republic is the best bet to preserve the rights of the individual against the oppressive force of a bought and paid for majority.