Comments on: America: A Republic, Not a Democracy

By: Little guy

Little guy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:34:16 +0000

I’m only 14 years of age, never understood what the United States democracy was. When i read this article, for information about my essay. It did not just give me information, it kinda inspired me in a way. I really want to let you know that, I appreciate your article.

Thanks, little guy. =D_=)_=P_:D_:)_:P

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:50:20 +0000

Perhaps we should ask Madison his opinion. Writing in Federalist 10, he says:

“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction.”
And:

“A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union.

The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.”

He describes the difference between republic and democracy as being the same as the difference between pure democracy and representative democracy. “Elected by the rest” sounds pretty conclusive.

I hear he had something to do with writing the Constitution.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:15:23 +0000

Good article. I would bet this distinction is not emphasized in public schools– at all. I doubt O will emphasize it either when speaking to “the children”. He probably doesn’t know the difference himself-besides the Constitution to him is a set of negative rights but doesn’t cover what the government can do -which in his mind -should be everything! Democracy or mob rule leads to tyranny which leads to an oligarchy. Where a Republic is made up of immutable God given unalienable rights as set forth in the DI and the Constitution-that no man can either grant nor take away- a rather important distinction!

By: Lynn B

Lynn B — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:07:10 +0000

I’m late to the party but had to leave a comment. Finally a very positive article on the greatest country on earth. I love it.

By: Roark

Roark — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:07:53 +0000

To demonstrate the evil of democracy, just listen to what Michael Moore had to say about his new propaganda film ‘Capitalism; A Love Story’….,” “You have to eliminate it and replace it with something that is good for all people and that something is democracy.”

By: DoctorT

DoctorT — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:48:41 +0000

Hear Hear. Nicely written and to the point.

By: The Big Picture

The Big Picture — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:10:42 +0000

“In the Declaration of Independence these unassailable rights were described as “unalienable” and were clearly presented as rights over which the government has no say.”

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” Lord Acton

There seems to be a contradiction between ‘rights’ and ‘government’. If the idea is to protect rights, the only legitimate purpose of government according to the founders, how does one accomplish this protection by taking those rights away? If I have the right to property but must surrender it to the ‘government’ in the form of ‘taxes’, how is this ‘unalienable’?

If some people (after all, just like you and me) call themselves ‘public servants’ but then claim to have the ‘authority’ to order us about by force are they servants or masters?

The fact that we get to periodically ‘choose’ a bunch of self-serving opportunists to be our rulers every few years does nothing to preserve our ‘unalienable rights’.

The power of government is nothing less that Tolkein’s ring of power that regardless of whether you call it a ‘democracy’ or a ‘republic’ works its will on others without their consent. “The consent of the governed?” It is to laugh! If it’s consensual, than what are the guns for that they will show you if you refuse to pay for their ‘services’?

The problem with our civilization is that it does not see any contradiction between the generally accepted rule against stealing, and taxation. The mark of a truly civilized society should be the “triumph of persuasion over force.”

By: Emery Calame

Emery Calame — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:05:35 +0000

As an “average person” I’d just like to say that I feel it is a terrible shame that Plato is no longer considered a planet. I thought she was pretty good in that “Different Strokes” TV show.

See you later. Off to a late soup and sandwich dinner.

By: Emery Calame

Emery Calame — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:04:52 +0000

To Kipling:

See you later. Off to a late soup and sandwich dinner.

By: Roark

Roark — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:02:45 +0000

Thank you for saying what SHOULD be said, especially by the empty suits in DC. The USA has for too long been duped into thinking that we are a democracy and that democracy is the superior form of government. BS!!! We are a limited Constitutional Republic…now if we can get the younger generation to know the difference and how important it is to understand the two.