[at-l] Follow Through On Global Warming (OT)

[jbryankramer at msn.com (J Bryan Kramer)]

As I've posted elsewhere, the Founders feared a "pure democracy" and rightly
so, just look at the Terror in France for an example of a "pure democracy".
I posted a number of quotes by various founders but here is another one by
an important non-Founder:

"The government of the absolute majority is but the government of the
strongest interests; and when not effectively checked, is the most
tyrannical and oppressive that can be devised. [To read the Constitution is
to realize that] no free system was ever farther removed from the principle
that the absolute majority, without check or limitation, ought to govern."
John C Calhoun

And this one from our cousins across the pond:

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the
average voter." Churchill

and I recommend reading Federalist #10 for a fuller exposition. And one last
one from Benjamin Franklin which sums up the goals of the democratic party:

"When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the
end of the republic."

Bryan

 Samuel Adams advised, "Let us contemplate our forefathers, and posterity,
and resolve to maintain the rights bequeathed to us from the former, for the
sake of the latter."

> And... our representatives are elected through one person, one vote
> "democratic" elections. I was not taking exception to the
> statement that we
> have a representative form of democracy. Democracy takes many
> forms. I was
> taking  exception to the statement that our government is ***NOT*** a
> democracy. If you believe that then we are no different from the People's
> *Republic* of China, The Union of Soviet Socialist *Republics* or the
> former *Republic* of Iraq. We *are* different because of that word
> "democracy". No, it's not "pure" democracy nor is it perfect
> democracy but
> when we are willing to give up democracy altogether in favor of
> 'Republic',
> we will be surrendering the essence of what Washington, Adams, Jefferson
> and company tried to do. They must all roll over in their graves when
> people say that we are not a democracy. (insert incredulous head
> shaking here)
>
> At 07:29 PM 2/21/2004 -0500, Frank Looper wrote:
> >Jim, our government is a "representative republic". His schooling has not
> >failed him in that aspect, as he is correct. If we were a true democracy,
> >all changes in the rules of law would have to be voted on in a
> referendum,
> >and those with the most money to spend on promising bread-and-circuses
> >would always win.
> >
> >Kind of like they do now.  :-)
> >
> >Frank
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Jim Bullard" <jbullar1@twcny.rr.com>
> >To: <AT-L@backcountry.net>
> >Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 6:29 PM
> >Subject: Re: Re[2]: [at-l] Follow Through On Global Warming (OT)
> >
> >
> > > Well, if you think that the US is *not* a democracy, our educational
> >system
> > > has failed indeed.
>
>
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