There is sound reason why our United States Pledge of Allegiance refers to our country as a Republic and why our Declaration of Independence and Constitution do not mention the word democracy.
Our country’s founders were very aware of the failures of prior democracies, such as ancient Athens and Rome. They feared creating a government having too many similarities to a pure democracy. They especially recognized the importance of ensuring the right of political dissent and protecting minority groups and individuals from the tyranny of the majority. They knew that a pure democracy could result in mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people could take away the rights of the other forty-nine. Through their experience, insight, and great wisdom, they put in place a one-of-its-kind constitutional republic—not a pure democracy.
In so doing they passed to us a very special form of government where sovereignty deliberately rests with we the people. Where we may act on our own or through our elected representatives to deal with issues, where our government is a servant of its people—where our government’s power comes from and is limited by its citizens. That is, until we further screw-it-up by irresponsibly continuing to give up our U.S. citizens’ Constitution-guaranteed power to an ever-growing government loaded with self-serving, self-perpetuating, power and influence craving officials!
Our Constitutional Republic does include some likeness to a democracy, such as our use of democratic processes to elect our representatives, pass new laws, etc. But, as opposed to a democracy, our U.S. Constitution limits our government’s power and spells out how our government is to be structured. As a result, our Constitutional Republic is divided into three separate but equal branches of government. The Executive (Presidency), Legislative (Congress), and Judicial (Courts). Our Constitution establishes that no branch has absolute power, therefore providing special checks and balances on our government system and protection for the rule of law.
Our Constitution is the life-blood of our Constitutional Republic. The foundation of this land of unequaled opportunity; best hope for mankind; and envy of countless peoples deprived of and seeking liberty. A liberty for which much sacrifice has been made by so many, and for which limitless measures must always be taken to defend, protect, and preserve!
It is also to our peril that we forget that any nation is defined by its borders, common-language, and common culture. And, ever present are foreign and domestic forces that are dedicated to the destruction of our U.S. border security, our U.S. common-language English, and our U.S. common-culture founded on Judeo-Christian values.
“We the people” must forever be most watchful and have zero-tolerance for any political leader, or branch of government, that demonstrates lack of respect for our U.S. Constitution or the government-system of checks and balances and rule of law it establishes! Or, fails to respect, protect, and defend our U.S. borders, common-language English, and common-culture founded on Judeo-Christian values.
Should we fail to do so, world-history shows that certain to follow will be tyranny and dictatorship, soon accompanied by loss of liberty/freedom and risk to survival! These are of course not words of exaggeration, nor of unjustified concern. But, rather, are a sincere expression of historically demonstrated facts-of-life.
--- William James Moore
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"A [pure] democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." —Thomas Jefferson
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