Since all pure democracies fail because of their very nature, why would anyone want to be called a Democrat?

Question

Interesting read:
Sorry, Mr. Franklin, “We’re All Democrats Now”

At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin told an inquisitive citizen that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention gave the people “a Republic, if you can keep it.” We should apologize to Mr. Franklin. It is obvious that the Republic is gone, for we are wallowing in a pure democracy against which the Founders had strongly warned.

Madison, the father of the Constitution, could not have been more explicit in his fear and concern for democracies. “Democracies,” he said, “have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their death.”

If Madison’s assessment was correct, it behooves those of us in Congress to take note and decide, indeed, whether the Republic has vanished, when it occurred, and exactly what to ex

Answer 1

We're not in a pure democracy, and Democrats are hardly for it.

Instead, we have a corrupted Republic that isn't serving the people's needs, regardless of being Democrat-controlled or Republican-controlled.

We need it to be American-controlled first.

Answer 2

In the beginning of this country, there were two parties:

1. Federalists: The believed in a strong central government.

2. Democratic Republicans: They believed in most of the powers being vested in each of the individual states, with a weak central government binding the states together.

At some point in history, the Federalist Party went Belly up; the Democratic Republican Party divided, with some people becoming Democrats (mainly Southerners) and others forming the new Whig Party (mainly Northerners.

Thus, it was name recognition that compelled the Deomcrats to keep the name "Democrats," not a stated goal to make this country a democracy.

Answer 3

Well, what the Forefathers understood was that the Republican form of government would ensure that educated/mostly distinguished citizens would make decisions rather than having some form of government where public opinion rules. The public can make broad decisions as to who the leaders are, but once chosen, those elected should show the leadership ability to make decisions/votes on principle, not public opinion on every issue.

Answer 4

We're no way in a pure democracy, more like a money-ocracy with financial and business interests calling the shots via lobbyists and campaign contributions. We voters are actually just another corporate asset, another piece of property to be manipulated. Sucks doesn't it.

Answer 5

I will concede that popular democracies are, indeed, dangerous. However, the party labels of "Democratic" and "Republican" have been far detached from their literal meanings so your original question is moot.

Answer 6

True. The main turning point occurred around 1918, I believe.

Answer 7

Then why is america pushing democracy around the world like it's heroin?