This is topic Happy Independence Day in forum Civil Debate - Politics and Other Hot Button Topics at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.
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Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 07-04-2023, 03:29 PM:
"Its a republic, if you can keep it"
-- Ben Franklin
The "if" is looming large, folks. Our republic is rarely even called that these days; it is referred to almost universally as a "democracy". We most certainly are NOT a democracy. Our founders recognized that democracies are short-lived, and either fail or descend rapidly into tyranny.
No, we are a constitutional, representative republic. And we need to be mindful of that fact, lest we too allow tyranny to walk into power.
Here is a July 4th message from George Friedman, founder of Geopolitical Futures, which I subscribe to. I think it is well stated:
quote:
Two hundred and forty years ago today, the American people were declared to be a unique and independent nation, distinct from all others. This was the conception of the people, but the sovereign government of the United States was born in battle. The revolution lasted eight years and about 25,000 died – a higher percentage of the population than died in World War II. This led over time to the Constitution, which founded the regime that governed the American people.
It was a unique regime because it did not trust politicians. The founders feared the politicians’ desire for power. To solve this problem, they founded a regime so unwieldy, so inefficient, that very little could get done. Their vision of America was a country of businesses and farms, churches and societies. They envisioned a nation whose heart was not in Washington – an artifice invented to hold politicians – but in private life. The life of farmers, businessmen, clergymen and eccentrics. Few other governments were founded with such fear of governance.
I recently told a foreign friend that his country has excellent relations with Washington, but it needs a better relationship with America. Many of our non-American friends live in countries where the political capital is the heart of the country. That isn’t the case in the United States. The American revolution was fought to make certain the government was weak and society strong and free. Our founders feared strong presidents and contrived to cripple them before they took office by confronting them with two Congressional houses run on different rules and a Supreme Court. Very little can get done, yet America flourishes.
When you marvel at our candidates for president, bear in mind that the U.S. president is among the weakest heads of government in the world. The sacrifice of 25,000 was to make sure tyranny would not rule this country. If the price was political paralysis, it was a small price to pay.
[ 07-04-2023, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Tiptree ]
Posted by Old Norm (Member # 1482) on 07-04-2023, 04:05 PM:
Very well explained, and I, for one, appreciate it!
Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 07-05-2023, 07:11 AM:
I ditto Norm's comment. thank you.
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