The American Form of Government

[rambone]

This video is exceptional. It explains the difference between the concepts of "Republic" and "Democracy." Pay close attention to the last 60 seconds of it. Sounds awfully familiar.

YouTube - The American Form of Government

America has always been a Republic.

You Tube

[flagtag]

This needs to be shown in all the schools - at ALL levels and at least once a school year.

[rambone]

Originally Posted by flagtag

This needs to be shown in all the schools - at ALL levels and at least once a school year.

I agree. I wish I had seen it back when I was in school. Everything useful I know about Civics has been self taught.

That clip was made way before Obama. And yet when they described the fall of the Roman Empire from within, it sounded like a play-by-play of Obama's first 6 months. Scary. Learn from history or repeat it.

[flagtag]

Exactly!

[jeremy]

What you mean we are not a Democracy?!

So Dad was right after all... Huh.

[Coach]

It has some flaws in my opinion. If a monarchy does not exist and has not existed the same logic would lead one to conclude that a republic is nothing more than an elected oligarchy, but the clip does not say that.

Our founding fathers were in fact an oligarchy were they not?

None of our laws or even the Constitution is beyond changes desired by the majority. All of it can and has been changed and a majority does not need to exist to do it except on the Supreme Court.

Sometimes I wonder why all the fuss over democracy or republic. A republic is a form of democracy. They are not apples and oranges.

[tenring]

The fuss is right or wrong, when the huge immigration took place in the last of the 1800's and early 1900's, so many of the "new" people were looking for direction, and the Democratic politicians of the time were quick to seize on the opportunity by sending hoards of their people down to the processing centers to help smooth the transition. During that time, the word Democracy was used continually to describe the United States and it's customs and laws. Democrats [Democracy], Republicans [Republic]. What would be the fuss if I had reared by son to say "lack of sunlight" as opposed to "night." How about "lack of heat" as opposed to "cold"? It's a fine line, just like a property line.

[Archaic_Entity]

How about "lack of heat" as opposed to "cold"?

Technically he would be more correct than anyone else. 'Cold' as a scientific concept does not exist. There is heat, and there is lack of heat. Friction or not. That's it.

But I digress... I wish I had time to watch the video, I'll leave it up for after work.

[Coach]

However it is described it is what it is. Everyone should be taught that our form of democracy is a republic and what both of these terms mean. Using them interchangeably is not wrong or inaccurate but perhaps not as precise as it could be.

Have you ever said Russia when meaning the Soviet Union? Ever said Great Britain when referring to England or the United Kingdom? Ever called a severe down pour a monsoon? These are commonly done and far more innaccurate than calling the United States a democracy.

[rambone]

The best way I can explain it, is to say that the context of all the examples in the movie were descriptions of the ruling bodies of the land. When looked at in this context, the case is made that the USA was founded as a republic, since the law rules the land, not the whims of the majority.

One might make the case that we are a democratic Republic. Facets of democracy exist in installing new members of congress. But Congress doesn't rule us, nor does the President. The law rules the land. (...Until Obama follows the actions of the Roman Senators that destroyed the public sector and made Rome into a vulnerable welfare state.)