ROBERTENEAL
March 16th, 2009, 9:16 pm
When Benjamin Franklin was asked about the type of government that he and his colleagues were trying to establish, Mr. Franklin replied; "a republic, madam, if you can keep it". Franklin knew that maintaining a republic would always mean resisting the tendencies that result in political and societal movement toward extreme types of government.
Republicanism is not totalitarianism, nor is it anarchism. It is a moderate system of government that balances rule of law and personal liberty.
Republicanism is not mob rule (democracy in the strictest sense), and it is not an oligarchy (the rule of a small elite class over the general population). In a republican form of government, there are a number of provisions that are in place for people to be able to participate in government at the grass roots level. Voting is only one of these provisions; there are many more..
A limited government of elected public servants who are accountable to their constituency is a part of what it takes to have a republic.
However, having people who occupy a set of positions in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government is not all it takes to have a limited, republican form of government.
In addition to having competent office holders, there must be a constituency that holds elected officials accountable for doing the things that they are constitutionally obligated to do, such as providing for common defense against enemies, both foreign and domestic. It is hard enough for people to live productive lives without having to fight terrorists and gang members while they are trying to work. It is also nice to drive on good roads and safe bridges.
At the same time, this constituency must be made up of people who do all they can for themselves, and for their family, friends and neighbors, without asking the government to do the things that responsible people can do for themselves. It would also help if everyone would only buy what they can afford, but that is getting away from the topic.
It takes competent public officials to maintain a republican form of government. Even more than that, there has got to be an industrious, law abiding, and politically active grass roots constituency that functions at the core of any republic.
It has become blatantly obvious that we can't call the United States of America a republic any more. The financial sector has become an oligarchy that dictates to the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government. Judges legislate from the bench. There are a number of oligarchies that have been created in order to promote a myriad of agendas, and most of them are getting financial assistance from "big brother gubmit" under the auspices of "stimulus".
But where does it stop? There is probably no one alive today who will live long enough to see the time when the public debt that is currently being amassed has been paid.
The only way that the march toward a socialist oligarchy can be stopped is if the responsible grass roots people of America start using every political apparatus that is available to them at every opportunity, not just on election day. Every precinct level position that is vacant needs to be filled. Voters initiatives and referendums needs grass roots activists who will circulate petitions. Churches, charitable organizations, and private individuals need to take the burden of caring for the less fortunate away from the government. The list of things that need to be done is endless.
If America is ever to be restored to its original status as a republic, it will not be because of the actions of the federal government. It will not happen as a result of the efforts of special interest lobbyists. It will not happen as the result of the efforts of anarchists who wish to promote an irresponsible ideology, either.
It will happen as a result of the efforts of responsible grass roots activists who believe in the same concept that the U.S. founders had in mind; the concept of a republican form of government.
The only good politics is grass roots politics. The fate of America really is in the hands of "we the people" if it is to survive.
If we rely on Washington D.C. to restore America, we are done.
Republicanism is not totalitarianism, nor is it anarchism. It is a moderate system of government that balances rule of law and personal liberty.
Republicanism is not mob rule (democracy in the strictest sense), and it is not an oligarchy (the rule of a small elite class over the general population). In a republican form of government, there are a number of provisions that are in place for people to be able to participate in government at the grass roots level. Voting is only one of these provisions; there are many more..
A limited government of elected public servants who are accountable to their constituency is a part of what it takes to have a republic.
However, having people who occupy a set of positions in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government is not all it takes to have a limited, republican form of government.
In addition to having competent office holders, there must be a constituency that holds elected officials accountable for doing the things that they are constitutionally obligated to do, such as providing for common defense against enemies, both foreign and domestic. It is hard enough for people to live productive lives without having to fight terrorists and gang members while they are trying to work. It is also nice to drive on good roads and safe bridges.
At the same time, this constituency must be made up of people who do all they can for themselves, and for their family, friends and neighbors, without asking the government to do the things that responsible people can do for themselves. It would also help if everyone would only buy what they can afford, but that is getting away from the topic.
It takes competent public officials to maintain a republican form of government. Even more than that, there has got to be an industrious, law abiding, and politically active grass roots constituency that functions at the core of any republic.
It has become blatantly obvious that we can't call the United States of America a republic any more. The financial sector has become an oligarchy that dictates to the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. government. Judges legislate from the bench. There are a number of oligarchies that have been created in order to promote a myriad of agendas, and most of them are getting financial assistance from "big brother gubmit" under the auspices of "stimulus".
But where does it stop? There is probably no one alive today who will live long enough to see the time when the public debt that is currently being amassed has been paid.
The only way that the march toward a socialist oligarchy can be stopped is if the responsible grass roots people of America start using every political apparatus that is available to them at every opportunity, not just on election day. Every precinct level position that is vacant needs to be filled. Voters initiatives and referendums needs grass roots activists who will circulate petitions. Churches, charitable organizations, and private individuals need to take the burden of caring for the less fortunate away from the government. The list of things that need to be done is endless.
If America is ever to be restored to its original status as a republic, it will not be because of the actions of the federal government. It will not happen as a result of the efforts of special interest lobbyists. It will not happen as the result of the efforts of anarchists who wish to promote an irresponsible ideology, either.
It will happen as a result of the efforts of responsible grass roots activists who believe in the same concept that the U.S. founders had in mind; the concept of a republican form of government.
The only good politics is grass roots politics. The fate of America really is in the hands of "we the people" if it is to survive.
If we rely on Washington D.C. to restore America, we are done.