“Democracy” has been a buzz word for well over a century in this country. “Democratic principles” are laid before us as our highest ideals.
"We must democratize the nations of the world," some say, "because only then will we enjoy world peace.
This sounds so noble, so worthy. If this is our ideal, shouldn’t we understand what democracy really means? How can we pursue it if we don’t comprehend it?
A true democracy is simply a system of government or society where all the people represent themselves.
Pros
- Everyone has a chance to express his own view.
- Each is his own delegate and therefore will express what he feels is most important.
- Everyone is represented.
Cons
- The length of time necessary for everyone to express their view.
- The impracticability of everyone being able to present themselves at the same place and time for such a dialogue.
- The opportunity for passion within the debate that would fuel accusations and eventually takeover unless a strong hand/mediator could keep control. Such a mediator would likely be seen as a tyrannical leader and “anti-democratic”.
- The ease with which those who wish to control could direct emotional passions in whichever direction they choose. In this way mob rule becomes law, and the minority is left with no protection whatever. The “will of the people” is paramount, and because of human nature extremely volatile, this is often a whim and can change on a dime.
Kristallnacht and the “struggles” of communist China are both examples of the citizens, prodded into frenzy by their leaders, destroying the lives and property of their neighbors because they are classed as dangerous.
The point is that minorities and the individual are sacrificed to the “will of the people.” Think the French Revolution and lynch mobs of the Old West.
“Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political right, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.” -James Madison, Federalist No. 10
This is why our Founders, through our Constitution, guaranteed a republican form of government to every state. They understood that, unless the individual’s rights are recognized, there can be no unity. Mobs will rule to their own destruction. So, no, we are not a democracy. We have representation. We are a republic.
This is where Convention of States comes in: with such a convention, the Constitution can be law once again, and mob rule has less opportunity to ruin the country.
