Democracy?

This post was meant for November 7, but was inadvertently published only in part due to a computer outage that occurred simultaneous to its initial posting. Please accept my apologies.



As I watched news coverage of the 2008 U.S. elections, I became very intrigued with the apparent lack of knowledge of the American form of government. Person after person, regardless of whether they were for the winning candidate, appeared on screen praising the wonders of our Democracy and how our form of government allowed for a smooth transition of power. All these well-positioned "experts" were from supposedly educated and informed circles with respect to government and civic action. Finally, I could take no more and caught myself shrieking at the television .... "What Democracy? We live in a Representative Republic"!




Ah, the genius of our Founding Fathers. They realized that if decisions were to be made on the basis of democracy, very few things would ever get done. On second thought.......... But seriously, the ability to go to the polls and elect someone to represent our views and values, our principles and preferences, has fostered a great and flexible system of governing has rested solidly on principles of faith, selflessness and personal responsibility tied to unique privilege. We select fellow citizens based upon their knowledge, character, tenacity and wisdom and trust them to vote their conscience and judgement; if, in our estimation, they fail us in carrying this solemn duty entrusted to them, we can fire them at the next election by voting for someone in their stead. And these citizens should not, must not, be reliant on "public opinion and sentiment" to make their decisions. After all, they are representatives, not messengers of the masses.




And, what if we, as citizens on the "losing" side of this electoral process, are dissatisfied with the outcome of decisions made by the duly elected representatives? Why, what else? In true capitalist fashion, we survey the marketplace for new representatives that may be hired next time round when we may fire those currently in office. Yes, our Founding Fathers were truly geniuses.