Are you aware of the great Democracy lie?

Question

I don't know where it came from or who started it, but for some reason people have been lying about our country calling it a Democracy. It is clear from the writings of James Madison, that our country was designed as a republic based on the concepts of liberty:

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed10.htm

Here are two good explanations of why liberty and democracy are quite different concepts and why the misconception about our government has lead to poor policy in the middle east:

http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7446

http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13281&news_iv_ctrl=1512

"not a republic or a Democracy, but a Democratic Republic...Democracy is a big part of the US, I think your reading is incomplete"

My reading is incomplete? Sir, I think you haven't read the link from Yale I provided. A link that is the writing of James Madison. I will take the writings of James Madison over yours any day.

Ayn Rand:
"All kinds of people today call themselves “libertarians,” especially something calling itself the New Right, which consists of hippies, except that they’re anarchists instead of collectivists. But of course, anarchists are collectivists. Capitalism is the one system that requires absolute objective law, yet they want to combine capitalism and anarchism. That is worse than anything the New Left has proposed. It’s a mockery of philosophy and ideology. They sling slogans and try to ride on two bandwagons. They want to be hippies, but don’t want to preach collectivism, because those jobs are already taken. But anarchism is a logical outgrowth of the anti-intellectual side of collectivism. I could deal with a Marxist with a greater chance of reaching some kind of understanding, and with much greater respect. The anarchist is the scum of the intellectual world of the left, which has given them up. So the right picks up another leftist discard. That’s the Libertarian..

Hey don't you just love it how people ignore credible evidence presented and just cling to their beliefs???

James Madison:

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.

James Madison:

The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations. Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people. The question resulting is, whether small or extensive republics are more favorable to the election of proper guardians of the public weal; and it is clearly decided in

Who was James Madison?

James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), an American politician and fourth President of the United States of America (1809–1817), was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. More than anyone he designed the new Constitution of 1787, and is known as the "Father of the Constitution". In 1788, he wrote over a third of the Federalist Papers, still the most influential commentary on the Constitution.

Answer 1

Oh, I've been aware of it for some time. We're a republic...actually we're moving towards a dictatorship, but we're supposed to be a republic.

Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Answer 2

Ladies and Gentlemen after less then 250 years the inevitable has occurred. Our democracy in shatters only a parading puppet for our ignorance remains. Republic only shadows what we really are: a plutocracy. God have mercy on this country.

Did you know residents of CA pay more taxes then the corporations which only pay the bare minimum of $800 a year.

Not to mention the 1996 campaign contribution scandal WHICH practically no one cared for.

I cant even speak to my congressman I cant afford the 3000 dollar dinner party! These days you have to pay to talk to your representatives. What a shame looks like something I read about in my classes ... Rome.

Don't take my word for it take a sociology class, history class, there's hundreds of books on this issue (its nothing new).

These next 100 years is humanities greatest hurdle (according to physicists) it will make us or break us. If we succeed we will have evolved into a Type 1 Civilization (there are three stages).

Peace

Answer 3

not a republic or a Democracy, but a Democratic Republic...Democracy is a big part of the US, I think your reading is incomplete. The US has a complicated government structure...the Madison papers are interesting and can be used to get insight, but they are not legal documents...and 3rd, the US is in a constant state of flux.....if you are looking for vindication on your views, I'm sure you'll find tidbits here and there to support your position...I'm not arguing with Madison, it's just that everyone has an opinion (including you and me) on what the interpretations are

James Madison was a great man of course, but he was after all, just one man and did not represent the others in attendence, who I'm sure had slightly different views like the political parties of today

Answer 4

While I agree that times have changed and we do not have the democracy we used to, you do realize that Ayn Rand was a Libertarian, don't you? Which is the farthest right you can get.

Answer 5

What are all these elections if you are not a democratic country. Democracy means that the leaders are elected by the people. I guess you could argue against it because GW didn't win the popular vote but still got in.

Answer 6

Have you ever heard the term "democratic republic?"

Answer 7

Are you aware of the pledge of allegiance, or of the republic for which it stands?

Answer 8

re-read your links.