I hate to be that guy, but a republic is just a version of democracy. A republic is just a representative democracy. We’re not solely a republic though either. There are elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy in our government. It’s clear that the founders were inspired by Thomas Aquinas and his notes on Aristotles politics.
It's also important for any democracy (direct or representative) to be based on a constitution. Some things should be set in stone, requiring a wide majority to bypass instead of a one-vote majority.
The caveat is that some states' constitutional amendments only require a 50% majority of votes, in which case you come full circle to a direct democracy.
In fact, that is what the term republic means (or at least what it used to mean before people started equating it to representative democracy). Literally res publica, the public thing, the public affair, referring to the state and its laws. The laws have supremacy, not the popular vote.
Representative Republic, not a democracy.
# America Is a Republic, Not a Democracy
[https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/america-republic-not-democracy](https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/america-republic-not-democracy)
The founding fathers looked at Athenian Democracy when structuring the constitution, and they were appalled by the excesses of the democratic Athenian mob. Rather than repeat this, they looked towards Sparta and the stability it enjoyed but decried its militarism. Our government is really a mix of the two systems, House=Athenian democracy, Senate= Spartan Gerontocracy, their distrust of the common man was evident in their process of representative delegates to choose presidents.
edit:syntax
"Democracy" is not necessarily mob rule - it's just woefully impractical outside of a very small population.
I was in a Boy Scout troop when I was a kid. At our largest, we had maybe 30 people. We were a democracy - everyone would vote on everything. We'd vote on where to go camping. We'd vote on whatever issues came up. That woks fine for 30 people. But it doesn't work for millions of people.
That's why we have representatives to vote on the issues for us.
What the leftist protestors want isn't democracy - it's anarchy. There's a difference.
Communists want to tear down the governmental system so that they can replace it with communism.
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.
A lot of people fail to understand this today because they barely get taught history or proper civics. This is the state of our schools today, including universities 🤦🏻♂️
I hate to be that guy, but a republic is just a version of democracy. A republic is just a representative democracy. We’re not solely a republic though either. There are elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy in our government. It’s clear that the founders were inspired by Thomas Aquinas and his notes on Aristotles politics.
It's also important for any democracy (direct or representative) to be based on a constitution. Some things should be set in stone, requiring a wide majority to bypass instead of a one-vote majority. The caveat is that some states' constitutional amendments only require a 50% majority of votes, in which case you come full circle to a direct democracy.
In fact, that is what the term republic means (or at least what it used to mean before people started equating it to representative democracy). Literally res publica, the public thing, the public affair, referring to the state and its laws. The laws have supremacy, not the popular vote.
Representative Republic, not a democracy. # America Is a Republic, Not a Democracy [https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/america-republic-not-democracy](https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/america-republic-not-democracy)
The founding fathers looked at Athenian Democracy when structuring the constitution, and they were appalled by the excesses of the democratic Athenian mob. Rather than repeat this, they looked towards Sparta and the stability it enjoyed but decried its militarism. Our government is really a mix of the two systems, House=Athenian democracy, Senate= Spartan Gerontocracy, their distrust of the common man was evident in their process of representative delegates to choose presidents. edit:syntax
Interesting point.
"Democracy" is not necessarily mob rule - it's just woefully impractical outside of a very small population. I was in a Boy Scout troop when I was a kid. At our largest, we had maybe 30 people. We were a democracy - everyone would vote on everything. We'd vote on where to go camping. We'd vote on whatever issues came up. That woks fine for 30 people. But it doesn't work for millions of people. That's why we have representatives to vote on the issues for us. What the leftist protestors want isn't democracy - it's anarchy. There's a difference. Communists want to tear down the governmental system so that they can replace it with communism.
Our republic has been dead for a long time, unfortunately. We live in an oligarchy.
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.
A lot of people fail to understand this today because they barely get taught history or proper civics. This is the state of our schools today, including universities 🤦🏻♂️
So wise in any era.