That's true. But, there are other elements of democracy that are not tied to the electoral processes. Some of those are "we the people" like freedom of speech, press, religion. Also, state and local process is a lot more direct access to the individual. On a national level in regards to the electorial processes. Yes, a republic.
Actually, those rights have nothing to do with democracy. You can have democracy as still lose those rights because the majority can vote those rights away. Those rights weren't even protected by our own constitution until it was amended.
You mean in a world where you can vote for local officials and laws, but don't have the Constitutional rights?
You can have constitutional rights without a democracy. You can have a democracy without constitutional rights. Also, you can have a constitution that doesn't protect the rights the we normally associate with our constitution, which ironically wasn't in the original constitution but added later as amendments. My point is that the bill of rights is actually there to protect you from pure democracy. It stops the majority from voting away your rights. For instance, the christian majority could legally vote that everyone living in the US had to be christian.
Oooops, I meant Alexander Hamilton; a Federalist. Regarding the Thomas Jefferson vs Alexander Hamilton duels.
I'd like a system with a national education system that gives a damn, term limits for representatives, and checks against gerrymandering.
I wouldn't mind seeing a constitutional monarchy put in place. It's not that I think it's the best form of government in a practical sense but it would be fun to have nobility. Look at all the great literature centered around nobility. It plays a factor in Tolstoy, Dumas, Mallory, Hugo, Cervantes etc. The list could go on and on. Of course the monarch wouldn't have absolute power and there would be a parliment, or congress and adivsors to help him and keep things in check. Of course there would be talk of some Richelieu or Mazarin type advisor running the show and making a puppet of the monarch etc. On the practical side it would give the nation a figure to ralley around, and boost morale. It would also give people hope for the future as they watched future monarchs grow. With Reagan's death a lot of people remembered the pride that he restored in the country, the sense of optimism to a country going through troubled times. He served the purpose of a monarch. He was a figure that the country could look to and the morale of the nation rose while he was in office(generally speaking.) A monarch would provide us with that for a life time. Monarchy NOW!
I've been pro-monarchy most of my life. I am just starting to change my view on this because I think it is inconsistent with my Christian values. I am currently of the opinion that any type of government can and will be corrupted by people yet all governments are in place only by God's grace and in accordance with His ultimate purposes. Any type of government is capable of providing security and justice to the people but many don't. While respecting the authority placed above us, we should as individuals be seeking to extend justice as much as possible regardless of whether we live in a democratic republic or under a dictatorship.
Thank you Mrs. Valdez...Some type of balance has to be reached. Conservative Republicans som times act like they want a government that imposes "moral values" on the people...i.e. like a pure Christian monarchy of England (the past). But as we all know, even the Bishops, Aristocrats and Kings get corrupted by their power. Even if at first, it was for noble Christian values. Even the pipe dream of pure Communisim/Socialism where *all men were equal* and worked for the motherland didn't work. There was always this little group at the top that held power; and garnered all the benifits of that "Socialist" society. It didn't work either. Add the fact that the common man started to learn; "Hey, why do I have to work? I'm not getting anywhere. Let my comrade do it...." So, while the Communist elite were enjoying their vodka, the commoners were sitting on their duff, doing nothing. Crumble....crumble... I like it when no group gets too much power. I like the checks and balances. And if some group starts to undermine the "checks and balances." We know what they are after...absolute power.
