We need to stop pretending we live in a Democracy

[davidn3600]

33. We were never meant to be a democracy

This is a republic. The Constitution formed a republic.

As James Madison wrote... the people sometimes do not know what is in their best interest and are many times too easily swayed.

This was a big concern among the founding fathers. They believed that ultimately the people are not wise enough and not well enough informed on the issues to make critical decisions for themselves. They believed that people would be too easily swayed by emotions or crafty politicians that have a gift of public speaking. In their view, the mob can easily trample the rights of the people just as easily as a King.

Were they wrong? Well...here is a good way to find out. Go outside on a busy street. Stop random Americans and ask them a few basic questions about our government, it's laws and policies. Ask to name a Supreme Court justice or even ask who their senators are. Who won the Civil War? Most Americans are tuned out of the political process. The answers you get to these kind of questions will scare you.

Most people are not well versed in history and don't follow politics like people in this message board do. 46% of the country didnt even both to vote at all in the last election.

"There are particular moments in public affairs when the people, stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be most ready to lament and condemn. In these critical moments, how salutary will be the interference of some temperate and respectable body of citizens, in order to check the misguided career and to suspend the blow meditated by the people against themselves, until reason, justice and truth can regain their authority over the public mind"
-James Madison
Federalist Papers #63