Issue 43.14
Some believe that we live in a Democracy and some believe it is a Republic. Today we consider the differences between the two, what we really have and what our role as voters is in that system of government.
Simply put, a Democracy is majority rule. If 50% of the people plus one want things a certain way, that’s the way it is. The problems and drawbacks to this approach are many, but I will just mention a couple that are critical. First, minorities have no real say in matters that concern them. This inevitably leads to unequal rights and treatment, prejudice and usually a caste system where some are discriminated against because of their race, religion, financial status or lifestyle preferences. Secondly, this system is easily manipulated by the few for the benefit of the few, particularly if they control the media and can whip up a fervor for or against actions or groups of people. More succinctly, it can become “mob” rule and encourage violence by those who are discriminated against because they have no other recourse.
A Republic is an association of states. They work together, through a common government, to create common protection from threats, assistance to each other in times of crisis, beneficial trade agreements between the states and collectively with foreign governments. The danger with this type of system is that the governors and representatives that form the central government can become an elitist group, considering themselves and their wants and needs ahead of the people they supposedly represent. There are several types of republics. A confederacy is a type of republic where the states are independent but work together for the good of the group. On the other end of this spectrum is an oligarchy, where the few rule the many through force or through complicated bureaucracy enforced by law and simply use the republic form to spread their control.
Our founders created a way to glean the best aspects of both approaches and minimize the dangers of either. What we have specifically is a Constitutional Republic that uses the forms of democracy to choose representatives for the central government, thus keeping control of that government in the hands of the people and the states. Theoretically at least, this keeps the power of the few in check.
The Constitution was carefully crafted to balance all of these elements, creating checks on the power of each by the other entities involved. The Congress is to make the laws. The Senate was to represent the interests of the states, the House to represent the people. The 17th Amendment largely destroyed this check and balance when it took the representation of the states away and made the Senate another elected office. The President is the commander-in-chief of the military but has to ask the Congress for permission to wage war. He can veto legislation from the Congress, but congress can over-ride the veto if a large enough majority want to. The courts are the arbiters if disagreements occur.
Over-arching all of this is the US Constitution. It defines the limits of power, reserving those powers to the states and to the people which are not specifically granted to the central government. It defines many of the basic rights our government is bound to protect for us, and it provides for the common defense, unified trade, currency and foreign relationships. It is designed to protect us from abuse of power by individuals or groups and protect individual and minority rights from abuses by the majority.
As the election approaches, what is our role as voters? We need to read and understand the Constitution and these concepts, why they are important and which candidates actually believe that these protections of our rights, freedoms and well-being are important. We need to look very carefully, not just at what they say, but at the voting records of those we have elected and hold them to account or replace them if they are unresponsive to these principles of freedom. That is our right and our duty.
Lynn West is a thinker, a teacher and a patriot. You can reach him through email at forgingthefuture2021@gmail.com or through this newspaper. Liberty is a state of being which must be continually created. These articles can help all of us discover the ways we can contribute to that outcome.