John Adams was skeptical of pure democracy, famously stating, "Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself." He was stating in condensed, pithy terms what Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouslee elaborated. “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.” From where I sit, it appears that we are transitioning from dependence at this moment, and the question is whether the Trumpian intervention can stop the process.
"Democracy" is the common term used for a system where the people vote for representatives who pass and administer laws -- what is technically a republic. Indeed, there are zero pure "democracies" in modern times, and scarcely any at any time at all.
Sure, there's a technical distinction between a democracy and a republic. In common usage, however, democratic republics are typically referred to a "democracies" even though people recognize that most laws are passed by elected representatives of the people rather than by the people themselves (but not all -- for example, there are citizen referenda).
If you want to be hyper-technical, we don't live in a republic either, since we have an administrative state that is not answerable to the people.
Democrats love to use the term democracy because their low-IQ listeners will associate the term with the "only" political party that will give it to them.
The republican form, it was hoped, would dilute the hysteria of the mob. But President Adams nailed it: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." We live in a fallen world, and "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
Great article. However, we conservatives should be applauding our republic and stay clear of cheering for democracy. As we all know, democracy allows rule by majority…which has some wicked downsides given that the majority is easily misled by fake news and pseudo-science. As I think Madison said…”beware the tyranny of the majority”.
I think it's too late for that. Democracy was a dicey proposition to begin with, as the Founders recognized, and now it's officially dead for the reasons they cautioned us about.
The question is, what's to replace it? History suggests that the Romans might have been on to something.
In the case of Jesus, it was “Veni, passus sum (I suffered), vici.” There are at least as many American place-names with biblical origins as those with classical origins. Trump is a nice blend of Caesar and Jesus, it seems to me.
The Albany, NY field office came across intelligence that China was manufacturing phony drivers licenses for the purpose of fraudulent vote by mail in the 2020 elections.
You are correct. I don't know what I was thinking. Thank you for the reminder the terms republic and democracy no longer have relevance to the real world. I'm thinking of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Cuban Republic, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Socialist People's Republic of Colorado among others.
John Adams was skeptical of pure democracy, famously stating, "Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself." He was stating in condensed, pithy terms what Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouslee elaborated. “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.” From where I sit, it appears that we are transitioning from dependence at this moment, and the question is whether the Trumpian intervention can stop the process.
50% of the population is stupider than average?
Sometimes it seems more than that…
;-)
It was either Eric, Stan, or Kyle that said a third of Americans are r-tards. At least a third.
I thought we lived in a republic. Big difference between a democracy and a republic.
"Democracy" is the common term used for a system where the people vote for representatives who pass and administer laws -- what is technically a republic. Indeed, there are zero pure "democracies" in modern times, and scarcely any at any time at all.
See https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/democracy-and-republic. "The short answer is that democracy and republic are frequently used to mean the same thing: a government in which the people vote for their leaders."
Sure, there's a technical distinction between a democracy and a republic. In common usage, however, democratic republics are typically referred to a "democracies" even though people recognize that most laws are passed by elected representatives of the people rather than by the people themselves (but not all -- for example, there are citizen referenda).
If you want to be hyper-technical, we don't live in a republic either, since we have an administrative state that is not answerable to the people.
Democrats love to use the term democracy because their low-IQ listeners will associate the term with the "only" political party that will give it to them.
The republican form, it was hoped, would dilute the hysteria of the mob. But President Adams nailed it: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." We live in a fallen world, and "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
Great article. However, we conservatives should be applauding our republic and stay clear of cheering for democracy. As we all know, democracy allows rule by majority…which has some wicked downsides given that the majority is easily misled by fake news and pseudo-science. As I think Madison said…”beware the tyranny of the majority”.
To be clear, Don, I'm not cheering for democracy.
I think it's too late for that. Democracy was a dicey proposition to begin with, as the Founders recognized, and now it's officially dead for the reasons they cautioned us about.
The question is, what's to replace it? History suggests that the Romans might have been on to something.
Representative Government can only work when the vote count is fair and legal.
As everyone knows, Caesar's uncle Marius instituted voter reform which reduced intimidation which was common at the time.
Colorado is becoming some kind of focal point for corrupt voting practices to emerge into the public square.
In the case of Jesus, it was “Veni, passus sum (I suffered), vici.” There are at least as many American place-names with biblical origins as those with classical origins. Trump is a nice blend of Caesar and Jesus, it seems to me.
Too many people that can vote on the gov't teat.
The Albany, NY field office came across intelligence that China was manufacturing phony drivers licenses for the purpose of fraudulent vote by mail in the 2020 elections.
We are not told which precincts are targeted.
You are correct. I don't know what I was thinking. Thank you for the reminder the terms republic and democracy no longer have relevance to the real world. I'm thinking of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Cuban Republic, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Socialist People's Republic of Colorado among others.
Don't forget Aspen and Boulder!