Aristotle said: Republics decline into Democracies and Democracies into despotism. I think most of us have heard that. But Aristotle also said : Masculine Republics give way to feminine democracies and feminine democracies give way to tyranny. The later statement describes America, in my opinion. There is no doubt we started out as a masculine republic. Yes, the men where in charge, then we went through the whole women's' right thing. Suffragettes and all that. We came to understand that, all men are created equal, should apply to women as well. A bit of a shift in ideology? It was in a legal sense, any married man already knew the women where really in charge. They always have been. And yes, it was a matter of legislation. Now women could belong to the legislative body. That happened in 1916 when Jeanette Rankin was elected to the house of representatives. Yes indeed, the feminine touch came to the house. The government remained a Republic. in fact, it is still a republic. Although you will hear the term democracy used extensively. There is a reason for that.
What is the principal difference between a republic and a democracy? The limit on power. That is the purpose of the constitution, to limit the power of the government. It is also the reason the constitution has been and continues to be scrutinized, modified, and exercised! There is the talk of it being a living document and that is why it should be changed. But remember this, those wanting to change that living document are also the ones allowing the killing of babies! Yup, same bunch, same train of thought. Are we heading toward a feminine democracy, just as Aristotle proposes will happen? Well given the governments propensity for charity, for leniency, compassion, one could say it is displaying maternal instincts. The government will take care of you. Aristotle made other interesting observations regarding democracies. " In a Democracy the poor will have more power because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is always supreme." Remember in a Republic, the constitution is the supreme authority. " A democracy is a government in the hands of men of low birth, no property, and vulgar employment. " Whereas that statement is quite uncomfortable, it holds a great deal of truth. If we are going to make the pragmatic decision, do you really want that as your leaders? Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, " When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. " Yes, that is obvious to anyone that examines the situation. Give a child a key to the piggy bank and you will soon understand the reasoning.
Feminine democracies give way to tyranny. And just what is tyranny? We instantly think of a cruel and oppressive government. The government is mean! Yes, the government acts like our parents acted when we were children, sometimes they were mean! The reality is parents rule in a arbitrary way, same as a democracy. There is no central document, no contract between them and you enforceable by any outside authority. You know, no constitution guaranteeing your rights. Your rights are arbitrarily decided on an almost daily basis. Nope, majority rules and your parents are always in the majority. I'd suggest that today we are seeing Parents being feminized! There is no balance of power as it used to be. Dad was in charge right? No but he got to issue the final verdict anyway. Dad was the pragmatic Republic and Mom was the Democracy. But now, now the Republic is becoming femininized, the Democracy giving away the store, and the government being accused of becoming tyrannical.
But just who is leveling the accusations? Those that would abolish the Constitution, those that oppose the rule of law. Those that insist we live in a democracy because they don't want the constraints of a constitution. Are they the poor, the uneducated, those of low birth and vulgar employment? The answer is no, it isn't them. It is just as it was in ancient Rome, the Senate wanting to assume power. They were at odds with the Emperor with no third party to arbitrate disputes. In our Republic we have three branches, you could say the Constitution itself is that third branch! It can only be overruled by the other two. Yes, the politicians. The Congress of the United States of America. The politicians are using the people in their fight for power. But be aware, once that power has been wrested from the hands of the people, tyranny will surely follow. The peoples' power resides in the constitution, in the rule of law, even when those laws aren't exactly what you would like them to be. Have the people found they can vote themselves money? Aristotle and Franklin both knew the deal. I agree with them both.
What is the principal difference between a republic and a democracy? The limit on power. That is the purpose of the constitution, to limit the power of the government. It is also the reason the constitution has been and continues to be scrutinized, modified, and exercised! There is the talk of it being a living document and that is why it should be changed. But remember this, those wanting to change that living document are also the ones allowing the killing of babies! Yup, same bunch, same train of thought. Are we heading toward a feminine democracy, just as Aristotle proposes will happen? Well given the governments propensity for charity, for leniency, compassion, one could say it is displaying maternal instincts. The government will take care of you. Aristotle made other interesting observations regarding democracies. " In a Democracy the poor will have more power because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is always supreme." Remember in a Republic, the constitution is the supreme authority. " A democracy is a government in the hands of men of low birth, no property, and vulgar employment. " Whereas that statement is quite uncomfortable, it holds a great deal of truth. If we are going to make the pragmatic decision, do you really want that as your leaders? Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, " When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. " Yes, that is obvious to anyone that examines the situation. Give a child a key to the piggy bank and you will soon understand the reasoning.
Feminine democracies give way to tyranny. And just what is tyranny? We instantly think of a cruel and oppressive government. The government is mean! Yes, the government acts like our parents acted when we were children, sometimes they were mean! The reality is parents rule in a arbitrary way, same as a democracy. There is no central document, no contract between them and you enforceable by any outside authority. You know, no constitution guaranteeing your rights. Your rights are arbitrarily decided on an almost daily basis. Nope, majority rules and your parents are always in the majority. I'd suggest that today we are seeing Parents being feminized! There is no balance of power as it used to be. Dad was in charge right? No but he got to issue the final verdict anyway. Dad was the pragmatic Republic and Mom was the Democracy. But now, now the Republic is becoming femininized, the Democracy giving away the store, and the government being accused of becoming tyrannical.
But just who is leveling the accusations? Those that would abolish the Constitution, those that oppose the rule of law. Those that insist we live in a democracy because they don't want the constraints of a constitution. Are they the poor, the uneducated, those of low birth and vulgar employment? The answer is no, it isn't them. It is just as it was in ancient Rome, the Senate wanting to assume power. They were at odds with the Emperor with no third party to arbitrate disputes. In our Republic we have three branches, you could say the Constitution itself is that third branch! It can only be overruled by the other two. Yes, the politicians. The Congress of the United States of America. The politicians are using the people in their fight for power. But be aware, once that power has been wrested from the hands of the people, tyranny will surely follow. The peoples' power resides in the constitution, in the rule of law, even when those laws aren't exactly what you would like them to be. Have the people found they can vote themselves money? Aristotle and Franklin both knew the deal. I agree with them both.
No comments:
Post a Comment