Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

For discussion of liberty, freedom, government and politics.
Post Reply
User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Democracy is the theory that 51 percent of the people have a right to rob, plunder and kill 49%, and that somehow it is moral and good. Constitutional Republic, on the other hand, is a system where 99% of the people can not violate the rights of one.

In other words, Constitutional Republic is a Democracy in which you do not get to vote on certain things, namely the rights of an individual,-- they are absolute.

Benjamin Franklin put it short and sweet: "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for dinner. Constitutional Republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote."

------------------------------
Politicians do not create jobs, they only destroy them. Politician, it is not your job to create jobs, your only job is to protect life liberty and property of the people, and nothing more!
Last edited by LoveIsTruth on February 16th, 2011, 5:55 pm, edited 9 times in total.

lundbaek
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 11123
Location: Mesa, Arizona

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by lundbaek »

I think the difference between a Republic and a Democracy is one of the most important lessons that students need to learn. Simply put, Republics protect people because they have a law that governments cannot break (the Constitution). Democracies don't work because they don't have a law that protects people from whatever the majority wants.

John Adams captured the essence of the difference when he said, "You have rights antecedent to all earthly governments; rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe." Nothing in our Constitution suggests that government is a grantor of rights. Instead, our government was intended to be a protector of rights. John Adams also said "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."

User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

Brilliant! Thanks! Good work!

User avatar
Toto
captain of 1,000
Posts: 1372
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by Toto »

The following are links and references to instances where I have heard the word “Republic” mentioned in the current main stream media…..

User avatar
Teancum-Old
captain of 100
Posts: 420
Location: San Diego, CA

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by Teancum-Old »

Great post! Good way to discriminate between the two forms. Democracy is not the answer; it is the problem. The Founders knew this. America seems to have forgotten it.

But why do so many keep using the word, or the similar idea of "representative democracy." It seems to me the the PTB are using language to deceive the masses and have substituted these democratic words for Republic. Yet so many fall into this con by using their language. Sometimes I wonder how many of us even see this pitfall. I have seen many constitution loving people use the word democracy instead of republic and have had to correct a few.

lundbaek
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 11123
Location: Mesa, Arizona

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by lundbaek »

The gradual transition from a constitutional republic to a democracy has been part of the process of converting America into a socialist dictatorship. The 17th amendment, popular vote of U.S. Senators instead of their selection by state legislatures, was a major step in that direction. Now many otherwise sharp people favour popular vote for U.S. President instead of the Electoral College. Interesting that even when it is explained to many LDSs that the selection of U.S. Senators by their state legislatures, and the Electoral College were part of the original Constitution established by the Lord.

User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

Toto wrote:May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works.
--Frederic Bastiat (1801 to 1850)
Brilliant quote! Thanks!

User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

Benjamin Franklin put it short and sweet: "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for dinner. Constitutional Republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote."
Last edited by LoveIsTruth on February 16th, 2011, 5:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Glenn
captain of 100
Posts: 301
Location: Westward Ho!

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by Glenn »

Good comments thus far. I would also add the following:

Democracies are unstable and volatile. Our Founding Fathers saw the flaw in establishing a Democracy. Instead they devised a Constitutional Republic that would establish a framework for a collection of democracies at the State and community levels. With this framework providing stability the voice of the people would be heard, but that roar would be tempered against the rule of Constitutional law.

The push towards global government will be sold as a push towards Democracy; otherwise known as rule by the manipulated mobs. It will be bloody and unjust, serving those with the power to shape society.

User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

Good point! The rights of an Individual, in other words, private property, is the supreme foundation of liberty.

Democracy has a legitimate voice over public property only.

Private property IS Liberty.

User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread ... l-Republic" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

User avatar
Toto
captain of 1,000
Posts: 1372
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by Toto »

Liked your signature line you posted on the forum linked.
Politicians do not create jobs, they only destroy them. Politician, it is not your job to create jobs, your only job is to protect life, liberty and property of the people, and nothing more!
I think of politicians as members of the parasitical ruling class. George Green defined politician as “many tics.” In my view, democracy is a useful tool for creating many hosts. :D

I’m a big fan of a constitutional republic and liberty.

User avatar
Toto
captain of 1,000
Posts: 1372
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by Toto »

Ripped this from Swiss Miss and Pitchfire a few years ago…..

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" -- Ben Franklin
Attachments
192276912245c7e9d82e97e.jpg
192276912245c7e9d82e97e.jpg (13.48 KiB) Viewed 1270 times

User avatar
LoveIsTruth
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 5497

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by LoveIsTruth »

Toto wrote:Ripped this from Swiss Miss and Pitchfire a few years ago…..
Nice! Thank you!

Silas
captain of 1,000
Posts: 1564

Re: Democracy vs. Constitutional Republic

Post by Silas »

That picture is awesome. Good quote too. A while back while I was perusing a Barnes and Noble I found a book on Constitutional Law that attacked the Constitution and the framers for not being democratic. It was pointing out as if to create a shock that the constitution doesn't mention democracy. They tried to make it look like the framers wanted government to be a club for rich people. I have had Political Science classes do the same thing and it really bothers me. They never try to make the distinction between a republic and a democracy. So supposed experts on the constitution can't seem to understand why democracy is a bad thing.

Post Reply