mjosparky 4 #1 January 15, 2004 Do we,USA, live in a Democracy or a Republic and why? SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 January 15, 2004 We live in a Republic. We do not usually vote on laws, but rather we vote on people we believe will make the right decisions for us.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #3 January 15, 2004 a republic. we don't vote directly for our laws like in a democracy, mostly. We vote for our lawmakers (republic). We are also bound by a charter (the constitution), which would be irrelevant in a democracy if it was unpopular. In a pure democracy 51 beats 49[%]. In a democracy there is no such thing as a significant minority: there are no minority rights except civil rights (privileges) granted by a majority. Only five of the U.S. Constitution's first ten amendments apply to Citizens of the United States. Simply stated, a democracy is a dictatorship of the majority. Democracy. That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation, as distinguished from a monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy. Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition, pp. 388-389. Government; Republican government. One in which the powers of sovereignty are vested in the people and are exercised by the people, either directly, or through representatives chosen by the people, to whome those powers are specially delegated. In re Duncan, 139 U.S. 449, 11 S.Ct. 573, 35 L.Ed. 219; Minor v. Happersett, 88 U.S. (21 Wall.) 162, 22 L.Ed. 627. [Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition, p. 626] Notice that in a Democracy, the sovereignty is in the whole body of the free citizens. The sovereignty is not divided to smaller units such as individual citizens. To solve a problem, only the whole body politic is authorized to act. Also, being citizens, individuals have duties and obligations to the government. The government's only obligations to the citizens are those legislatively pre-defined for it by the whole body politic. In a Republic, the sovereignty resides in the people themselves, whether one or many. In a Republic, one may act on his own or through his representatives as he chooses to solve a problem. Further, the people have no obligation to the government; instead, the government being hired by the people, is obliged to its owner, the people. The people own the government agencies. The government agencies own the citizens. In the United States we have a three-tiered cast system consisting of people ---> government agencies ---> and citizens. A democracy is government by the majority. There is still a restricted group of citizens in a democracy, but this group rules directly and personally runs the state. The group may delegate specific tasks to individuals, such as generalships and governorships, but there is no question that the ruling force in a democracy is not a charter (if there even is a charter), but the vote of the majority. Democracies are free only if the people know what freedom is and are consistent in their application of it. If they don't know this, or more appropriately, if a majority of the people don't know this, then a democracy could be just as tyrannical as the worst dictator (see Socrates' forced suicide by the Athenian democracy.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #4 January 16, 2004 If surprises me how few responded, or should I say how few know. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdgregory 0 #5 January 16, 2004 We live in a Republic of Independent States. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #6 January 16, 2004 Has a true democracy ever existed on a national level? Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #7 January 16, 2004 Ancient Greece... that's bout it, I think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #8 January 16, 2004 I believe we live in a Representative Republic. We dont vote on laws for the most part. We elect people to do that for us. Correct me if I am wrong but can a "true" democracy even work? There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdgregory 0 #9 January 16, 2004 No because you would have 51 percent oppressing 49 percent and then you would have a bloody civil war. I do not remember where I read it but I hremember reading a quote that basically said the natural prgression of Democracy is Socialism. Welcome to Mother Russia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #10 January 16, 2004 Quote Correct me if I am wrong but can a "true" democracy even work? In the past there was simply no way the entire populace could be educated well enough for it to work. Nor was there a system in place for their "votes" to be communicated quickly enough for anything approaching a workable system. That's essentially how Republics came into being. Today, it is theoretically possible. We could have instant polling of the entire populace via the internet. It would also be open for -massive- misuse if the system wasn't designed with a lot of safeguards.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #11 January 16, 2004 Republic. That's why I thought Perot's Electronic Town Hall was a pretty bad one. It's also why the elected shouldn't just be a "rubber stamp" for the will of the people. If we were a democracy, he'd have no job. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #12 January 16, 2004 Quote No because you would have 51 percent oppressing 49 percent and then you would have a bloody civil war. I think you want to look at the last Presidential election. No civil war broke out.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #13 January 16, 2004 QuoteQuote No because you would have 51 percent oppressing 49 percent and then you would have a bloody civil war. I think you want to look at the last Presidential election. No civil war broke out. No democracy broke out either Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdgregory 0 #14 January 16, 2004 We are talking about one election. If you were 49% and everytime you wanted or needed something and 51% always said no and this happened over and over and over again. Yes civil war woudl break out because your needs were not only not being met, but were being ignored. Eventually you would feel helpless and without a voice and would rise up against those who were oppressing you. edited because I hit post instead of preview and then in the process I forgot my other points. Must have been a lie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #15 January 16, 2004 Quote If you were 49% and everytime you wanted or needed something and 51% always said no and this happened over and over and over again. Yes civil war woudl break out because your needs were not only not being met, but were being ignored. I don't think so. I think that there are some people out there that know they can push it pretty damn far before anything even resembling a small protest will break out. For instance, with the new Patriot Act in place, can you even imagine trying to organize a small group of people for a coup? The government in the U.S. is so massively powerful that there is simply no way that an effective civil war could ever happen. There will be no proletariat revolution. It only happened in the former Soviet Union because even the leaders -wanted- it to happen.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #16 January 16, 2004 QuoteHas a true democracy ever existed on a national level? I believe that Costa Rica is the closest example. According to the World Fact Book -- "Democratic Republic". We are a Federal Republic. So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #17 January 16, 2004 Well stated. You either are or will be a good lawyer. If not maybe you should be. My current reading is "The Declaration of Independence" by Carl Becker My favorite book regarding individual rights is "Gideon's Trumpet"L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fool 0 #18 January 16, 2004 I don't know why people would respond again once the correct answer has already been given though. S.E.X. party #1 "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "f*#k, what a ride". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChileRelleno 0 #19 January 16, 2004 A Republic! And it ain't no Banana Republic Just remember your Pledge of Allegiance.... See my Sig line. ChileRelleno-Rodriguez Bro#414 Hellfish#511,MuffBro#3532,AnvilBro#9, D24868 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #20 January 16, 2004 lol... I'm actually in the process of applying to law school! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
