๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ; a government bound by written law where citizens choose a few peers to stand in the place of all, collectively, in public office. The democratic process of electing gets it done, reflecting the will of the People.
Newspeak notwithstanding, that we are a republic is beyond contention unless you have an agenda to push. And yes, ignorance qualifies as an agenda. It’s the default one.
A republic, not a monarchy
Let’s start with the Constitution.
Attributed to James Madison, Article IV, Section 4 states in pertinent part: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government.” (Note the language here, it did not say “force every State”; neither is the form of government a democracy nor is “Republican” a nod to the GOP.)
One should bear in mind there is no mention of the term democracy either in the Declaration (the document that sets forth the self-evident position that the People are by Natural Law free, in and of themselves, and may of this liberty exercise the prerogative to throw off or form any government of their choosing), or in the Constitution (the document that confers no rights but puts hard limits on the power of the government itselfโthe one formed by the People).
Secondly, after the Constitution had been signed and the delegates officially adjourned, a Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia had inquired of Benjamin Franklin what kind of government had been created. (She gave but two options: a monarchy or a republic. No mention of a democracy.)
We’re all likely familiar with Franklin’s reply as recorded in James McHenry’s diary: “‘A republic, Madam,’ replied the Doctor, ‘if you can keep it.'”
“And why not keep it?” she intoned.
“Because the people, on tasting the dish, are always disposed to eat more of it than does them good,” replied Franklin.
It should be noted this wasn’t just any woman, and this was hardly idle conversation. There was only one Elizabeth Willing Powel of Philadelphia, โa lady remarkable for her understanding and wit.โ
She was well-known and influential.
As the hostess of many a superlative dinner party (highbrow soiree) where, according to John Adams, the “most sinfull Feast” was enjoyed consisting of “Every Thing which could delight the Eye, or allure the Taste,” Powel used her elegant townhouse as a political salon during the Constitutional Convention, providing a sociable space for movers and shakersโand their wivesโto meet and discuss politics.
Born into two of Philadelphiaโs wealthiest and most politically connected families; her father, her motherโs grandfather, her uncle, her brother and her husband, Samuel Powel, all served as mayors of Philadelphia (he was the last Colonial and the first post-revolutionary Philadelphia mayor).
Yet it was she, rather than her husband, who was the acknowledged political thinker in the marriage. As the French nobleman, Franรงois-Jean de Chastellux, observed, โcontrary to American custom, she plays the leading role in the family,โ and โwhat chiefly distinguishes her is her taste for conversationโ and โher wit and knowledge.โ
The Powel’s had become close friends of George and Martha Washington, and when he was ready to depart public office and retire, Elizabeth implored President Washington to stay and serve the country another four years. Such was the force and effect of this lady. We even owe the custom of addressing the head of state as โPresidentโ to her.
Married in 1769, and having become staunch abolitionists at a time when their peers continued to do so, by 1790 the Powel family no longer held slaves in their service. Her position was clear:
I abhor slavery under any modification and consider the practice of holding our fellow creatures in bondage alike inconsistent with the principles of humanity and the free republic institutions…
The lady most certainly deserves much more than the footnote in history she receives. But let’s continue.
Though I personally chafe at the openly statist implications of a “pledge of allegiance” (especially one that fails to mention the Declaration), I refer to the historic significance of The Pledge of Allegiance authored by Francis Bellamy to further drive the point home. If you’re unsure, keep reciting it until you get to the part where it says, “… and to the ________________, for which it stands…”
Fill in the blank. The missing term is republic, not democracy.
Great presidents through the ages have, knowingly, ignorantly or otherwise, slandered our government by calling it a democracy: men like JFK (D) and Reagan (R).
But calling spiders “comedians” doesn’t make their proximity any funnier, and calling America a democracy doesn’t change its structure: It only serves to dumb down the People.
We are a nation bound by written law as enacted by the legislatureโnot executive orders, public opinion, majority mob rule, militant minorities, secret rules, foreign courts or elitist peers.
Oops!
As a government of law, the Constitution is the supreme canon. Representatives take the will of the people and translate it into legislation, subject to the limits of the Constitution.
The POTUS enforces the laws: the will of the people at the sharp end of the stick.
The Supremes ensure the process doesn’t go hinky if Congress or the President fail in their duties. The Court’s yardstick is again, the Constitution.
All that was more or less the idea anyway: It’s hardly what we have today.
Currently, we fall prostrate socially and economically before an oligarchy of 545 individuals that, with scant exception, exists to further itself by taking advantage of the People who have grown accustomed to carpet burns on their knees.
Literally, we pay all their bills and provide their upkeep at the expense of our own liberty, as they connive and scheme to do all they can in defiance of the Constitution and common decency. Congress orchestrates its own laws based on the caprice and whimsy of its membership, the will of the people be damned. (ObamaCare, anyone?)
Presidents not only selectively enforce laws, but they create new ones as well, turning pet policies into dictums for Congress to rubberstamp. Further, both the Congress and the President act as if the scope of executive orders applies outside the executive branch. Bush’s enemy combatant status is a case in point.
Meanwhile, extremely enlightened justices (Ketanji Brown “I’m not a biologist” Jackson) take seats on the bench so caught up in the vibe of the day, and so completely out of touch with constitutional judicial review, that they’re unable or unwilling to condescend to something as basic as articulating the distinctions of their very own gender.
The executive, legislative and judicial branches have transmogrified themselves into sterling examples of how representative government cannot work. Expectedly, the only ones left out of the equation are the People. The only ones represented are members of government.
A rigged referendum by any other name…
The “peaceful approach” to current injustice would have us endure present-day evil against the day that we can hit the voting booth.
In other words, we should wait and watch as Brandon continues to ravage the virtues of our country, literally giving our resources to those who loathe us (and then sending a bill to the service members who did as they were ordered).
As children, we should go stand in the corner until the likes of Fauci are through experimenting with our health and safety.
But unless youโve had your head in the sand, the past series of elections have openly demonstrated we operate like a banana republic. Our ballots cannot be certified. Our audits are a joke. We do nothing and act as if the next election cycle will somehow fix the busted election process itself.
And those of you who do have your head in the sand refuse to acknowledge the election fiasco because you’re afraid of its truth and the implications thereof.
How does this resolve anything? The “peaceful approach” refuses to hear grievances, offers no redress and rights no wrongs.
There’s much, much more to be said, but most of my observations here will go underappreciated. I know this to be true because itโs taken generations of ignorance and apathy to bring us to where we are todayโit didnโt happen overnight.
Iโd say weโre screwed, but Iโm sure most of you cannot truly appreciate how deeply weโve been violated.