I understand the difference between republic and democracy but in USA the republic is based on democratic principals and not in conflict with it. In a republic, political power is explicitly granted with consent of the people and ruled according to law and the purpose of government should be to protect the rights of people by the power given to it by the people. That is the reason that the words "We the people" is used in the Constitution. If we look at the Constitution, we can see that it protects the democratic rights of the people. The following Amendments are specially important in protection of individual rights against government tyranny. Amendment XIV (1868) Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Amendment IV (1791) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Amendment V (1791) No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Amendment VI (1791) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Amendment VII (1791) In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Amendment VIII (1791) Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Amendment IX (1791) The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. The commitment to democracy and protection of individual right against government tyranny can also be seen in Alexander Hamilton writings who was probably most conservative of them. "The establishment of the writ of habeas corpus ... are perhaps greater securities to liberty and republicanism than any it [the Constitution] contains. ...[T]he practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny. "
Yes but from everything I've read the points you've brought up are based off what the founding fathers intended on a 'republic' and not a democracy. In a true democracy those points in the constitution could be quite mute. There is some truth the democracy statement, most of it however appears to be from people simply stating it all the time. You hear something repeated enough, it comes to be the truth. I've even called the US democracy, simply because that appears to be what everyone refers to it as, the founding of this country and the meaning of the constitution though is far from a democracy. Yes which is a great way of putting what the country was founded on, a republic
Big Wins For Democrats Democrats scored key victories Tuesday from New Jersey to California, sinking the candidate who President Bush campaigned with on election eve in the Virginia governor's race. Voters also rejected Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to limit the power of California's Democratic leaders. ........................................... How worried should the Republicans be? "Very worried," Larry Sabato the director of politics at the University of Virginia, told CBS News' The Early Show. "They really are in danger of losing a substantial number of seats in Congress and, more importantly, key governorships in 2006." Big Wins For Democrats
gworld... you give us a bad name. I take back all the bad things I said about people on here liberal bashing. I now see who you were talking about.
You have to ask? It's one thing to have your beliefs, it is another to expect everyone else to surcome to them. If someone disagrees with you, you consider them an ignorant, insane, irrelevant, red neck. Think about it. Kinda silly.
One wonders why we even have state governments any more, the Fed has become so overwhelming. Most people seem to want it that way - continually voting in more power to the feds, and continually contributing money & votes to the two Bloated Government parties: the Repubs and Dems. We might as well change the name of the country to Usurped States of America.