They seem to be badly educated, or are of the opinion that the American people are, as a whole, ignorant. Well, Mr. Presidents, not all of us. Sorry.
Before I go further I should mention that I'm not addressing Democratic vs. Republican party views. I'm referring solely to the form of government which America is--not what it is called.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all."
Please note the bold text.
Now, allow me to quote our up-and-coming US president, Barack Obama.
"I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics."
Democracy? What is he talking about? Is our nation a democracy? It is? Sorry. No. It's not. At least, it wasn't ever supposed to be.
Anyone who has pledged allegiance to the American flag, anyone who has repeated those words with their hands over their hearts, calls our nation a Republic. And it is, according to the constitution of our land.
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence." --Article IV Section IV
Not once, through the whole of the constitution, does it ever mention a democracy. Not once.
I find it very disturbing that our president-elect, and those who have come before him, are under the misconception that America is a democracy. Even setting aside the fact that, yes, there are differences between these two forms of government, it disturbs me to know that I understand the constitution better than those who have spent decades in governmental affairs. How can I trust my beloved country to men who are either too stupid to read, or who must else wise intentionally ignore the words which they swear to uphold, live by and protect?
It's no wonder our nation is so split. It's no wonder people aren't sure what to think. No one's reading the words we each have a duty to protect! No one understands them! I'm far from reassured when men in power stand up and constantly, over and over and over again, call my nation something other than what my forefathers, and our founding fathers, LIVED AND DIED TO PROTECT.
To be quite honest with you, I don't understand why the US refers to itself as a democracy. I always thought that it was, until it was brought to my attention that, hey, it's not. It really threw me because that seems to be the message your country sends out.
ReplyDeleteYou're quoting the Pledge of Allegiance also made me go, "Oh yeah, it does say that, doesn't it?" I mean, I've heard it before, but it's never really clicked because, in a way, it doesn't concern me.
Ultimately, I'm not even entirely sure what the difference is between a republic and a democratic society then.
We only started to call ourselves a democracy after World War II, though why we started to then escapes me. I guess it's the lazy way of saying 'we have "free" government', which isn't entirely true. Nothing of great value is free, after all.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of a republic is:
"A constitutionally limited government of the representative type, created by a written Constitution--adopted by the people and changeable (from its original meaning) by them only by its amendment--with its powers divided between three separate Branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Here the term "the people" means, of course, the electorate."
Versus a democracy, which is:
"Rule by Omnipotent Majority. In a Democracy, The Individual, and any group of Individuals composing any Minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of The Majority. It is a case of Majority-over-Man."
The forms of government are similar, especially over time, when republics are considered dead (which isn't true, as one republic still existing has been around since 305 AD).
Sorry if you didn't care to know all this. Still, if you want to read more, I found a very informative but relatively brief article: http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanIdeal/aspects/demrep.html