FB friend is obsessed with the notion that the country is a republic (and not a democracy).

[pnwmom]

33. They oppose majority rule. I ran into someone like that just yesterday

on a relative's FB page.

They use their ideas about the US being a Republic to justify the thought that the majority shouldn't always rule (as long as they're in the minority). Because we live in a Republic, they -- as part of a minority -- get to impose their priorities on the majority. This wouldn't happen in a simple Democracy.

Here's an example of one of these people debating with a Dem:

DEM: If Obama caves, then they'll be trying this every few months, with each temporary extension of the debt ceiling. Since they don't have enough members to get all their legislation passed in the usual way, they'll accomplish their goals by tying them to the debt ceiling instead -- and that will be the end of majority rule. Their wish list this time included almost every legislative priority of Mitt Romney's. What would it be next time? Getting rid of the Medicaid Program? How about Medicare, or privatizing social security? What's to stop them from demanding anything they want in the future if they learn that this tactic works for them?

Tea Party: WE are a republic., not a democracy. In a republic the majority rules but the minority still has rights that are untouchable. Even if a majoirty vote to come back with legalized slavery, or to end freedom of religion, or to do away with the right to keep and bear arms, the minority still has those rights protected. Nothing short of a change in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights could do that. I never want to live in a democracy. I prefer a republic, and that's why even our pledge or allegiance proclaims that.


Dem: You are very right. But the minority in this case isn't trying to protect its CIVIL RIGHTS -- it's trying to ride roughshod over the majority and impose its legislative priorities on everyone else. . . .