Bwa hahahah.
Translation: “Democracies end when they no longer let tyrannical elites control them.”
For those people that have turned their brains off now that they have have a nominee, now is the time to reflect on truth and be aware of all of it. We have been in perilous times and are headed for worse times. I would encourage everyone to become a critical thinker and let the emotions of the moment pass.
Democracies end when people vote? OK
I refuse to endure Andy but did he mention the imposition of his leftist agenda, including his precious ‘gay marriage’ by strict judicial fiat?
There is nothing less democratic than the Supreme Court.
Sorry Andrew but countries run by elites always devolve into hellholes ... For reasons unknown elites tend to feather their own nests and the nests of their friends AND then they start to fear the people they're ripping off.
Andrew - the reason you think it would be different here is because you see yourself as belonging to the ‘elites’ who run the place. But tell me, WHAT country run by self appointed ‘elites’ would you like to live in WHERE YOU WERE NOT part of the ruling class?
Come on Andrew - give me your list... Any South American hellholes? Or those in the ME? Cuba? North Korea? China? Iran? Different ideologies but these hellholes all have one thing in common - they're run by leaders who are sure they're ‘oh so much smarter’ than the people...Wake up Andrew.
Sorry Andrew but countries run by elites always devolve into hellholes ... For reasons unknown elites tend to feather their own nests and the nests of their friends AND then they start to fear the people they're ripping off.
Andrew - the reason you think it would be different here is because you see yourself as belonging to the ‘elites’ who run the place. But tell me, WHAT country run by self appointed ‘elites’ would you like to live in WHERE YOU WERE NOT part of the ruling class?
Come on Andrew - give me your list... Any South American hellholes? Or those in the ME? Cuba? North Korea? China? Iran? Different ideologies but these hellholes all have one thing in common - they're run by leaders who are sure they're ‘oh so much smarter’ than the people...Wake up Andrew.
Every time the people begin to express their desire, we are solemnly warned that democracy is evil. Apparently if the elites run unchecked, that’s wonderful and good.
Yes we all know democracy is bad. But so is a system that is wildly ignoring the will of the people.
Our Founders understood this, which is why they established a government with four parts, each increasingly removed from democracy: the directly-voted-on House, the voted-on-by-state-legislatures Senate, the chosen-by-electors President, and the chosen-by-President-and-Senate Supreme Court. The Senate was Aristotle’s oligarchs keeping the demos House from foolishness, the House (where all spending had to start) was the people keeping the oligarchs from taking over power, the President was the check on both the House and Senate with veto power, and the Supreme Court settled disputes that arose in spite of, or because of, the House, Senate, and President.
We no longer have this. The House is directly voted, the Senate is directly voted, the President might as well be directly voted, and the Supreme Court is the vassal of whoever happens to have been directly-elected in the Senate and the White House—there hasn’t been a single non-politically-motivated major decision by SCOTUS since before Brown v. Board of Education.
We already have a President-as-Emperor with a go-along-to-get-along Senate and SCOTUS. Going forward, the difference between President Hillary and President Donald is not that one cares about the Founders and the other does not; rather, the difference is that she’s the left’s *itch and he’s not, so the country will be better served by his Presidency than by hers. But don’t kid yourselves: we’ve turned a corner, leaving the Constitution behind, and I fear we will never return to retrieve it again.
The election of Donald Trump represents a peaceful revolution of the American people against an overbearing elitist leftist aristocracy. Without this peaceful revolution we would be facing a future violent revolution with the strong possibility of a breakup of the United States.
There is a strong word of caution in that statement. I believe there is a great bit of truth to understand but I think many may be blinded by the moment, or by their specific candidate/s to understand the broader implications. But this is largely due the nature of our minds.
Regardless of what side you are on, be careful what you wish for. We can’t have it both ways. The masses shouldn’t be who elect our leaders, but at the same time, we want the people to feel connected and empowered toward the leaders. I have no idea what the ideal solution is, but to believe that the masses will make the right decision is lunacy. It’s only a matter of time and circumstance that will lead us to civil-war.
Anyway, Socrates words ring true to me, I think true democracies are doomed to fail. But perhaps the broader more important question: Are all governments doomed to failure? If that is the case then it’s a question of lifespan.
Secondly, the US Constitution was crafted to prevent the erosion of true rights by allowing politicians, ie demagogues, to substitute fiat "rights' in their place.
The breakdown in the scheme is when the Supreme Court becomes so politicized that it is no longer a check on the abuses of the other branches of gov.
Hard and disciplined study is required to determine how to fix this flaw or we are all in a terrible fix.
USA is not a democracy. Long live the Republic!
What is Interesting is from where, this discourse on the construction of Republicanism originates , of all places, the NY Post.
What is Interesting is from where, this discourse on the construction of Republicanism originates , of all places, the NY News.
Freedom is good. License is not.
Our end is due to losing our morality. That morality lead people to behave, to make sound decisions, and not to tolerate immorality and corrupt leaders. Today “anything goes”, and it is getting worse over time.
I am so greatful to have been born decades ago and not born today on the cusp of socialist totalitarian oppression. I grieve for todays children.
A very long ‘think piece’ by a gifted intellectual. I doubt many of the Yahoos among us will read it all, or comprehend it as a very good critique on American cultural and political development in the years since WWII.
By the way, lest I be flamed without reason, I intend to vote for Trump with my last vote as a protest against the Left and all it stands for. In the final analysis I prefer the Demagogue of the Right to the Comintern Chairwoman of the Left.
No matter who wins this election, America is about to change forever from the country I’ve known and worked for all my life.
Direct Democracy, two Wolves and one Sheep deciding what’s for Dinner.
Anyway, here's some of the feedback.
Andrew Sullivan's American Tyranny Thesis Is Off the Mark
Althouse: Andrew Sullivan has a point but it's too hard to see.