Quote of the Day: Liberty, Not Democracy
Today's quote of the day is actually two of my favorite quote's about this countries governmental system, a constitutional republic not a democracy.
Our country's founders cherished liberty, not democracy.
--Ron Paul
Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
--H.L. Mencken
This is a curious set of quote's since we hear democracy used a lot today. Whether if it was spreading democracy to the Middle East by force of arms or politicians plea for greater democracy in the American form of government, the term democracy is thrown around dangerously by politicians and the media.
To understand this quote by Republican House member Ron Paul is true it would be pertinent to know what democracy is. Democracy is in the simplest sense mob rule. It is sometimes known as "mobocracy." Democracy is a form of government where the majority rules and the minority is neglected and is hence very dangerous for those who disagree with the majority. Democracy allows those in the majority to push their will upon those who have different opinions on governmental power, religious preferences, or moral compass. This is the most dangerous aspect of a democracy. A democracy is no better or less tyranical than dictatorships. Wikipedia has a pretty good run through of the history of "mobocracies."
A constional republic according to Wikipedia is:
A constitutional republic is a state where the head of state and other officials are elected as representatives of the people, and must govern according to existing constitutiona law that limits the government's power over citizens. In a constitutional republic, executive, legislative, and judicial powers are seperated into distinct branches and the will of the majority of the population is tempered by protections for individual so that no individual or group has absolute power. The fact that a constitution exists that limits the government's power makes the state constitutional. That the head(s) of state and other officials are chosen by election, rather than inheriting their positions, and that their decisions are subject to judicial review makes a state republican.
I believe it is quite clear now why the founding fathers cherished Liberty, not democracy. H.L. Mencken could not have said it more clearly that "Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." Democracy assumes that the right will be achieved by the will of the majority no matter how stupid or ignorant the individuals who make up the majority are. The US made this assumption when they pushed for Palestinian free and fair elections that resulted in the election of Hamas officials.
Perhaps I can make this clearer. Choose any issue in your mind and for my sake I will take something trivial to prove my point. I want to create a law that says all people between the ages of 18-25 are not permitted to wear baseball hats from dawn until dusk. I go an campaign to the people and society starts to take my view for whatever reason. Now it is election time and my movement passes with a clear majority (60%-40%). Now people between the ages of 18-25 are not permitted to wear hats duruing the daylight hours, something no doubt that most of you would consider unreasonable. However because the majority has spoken it has become law. This is a clear example of the downfall of democracy.
While the previous example may seem trivial the position can be taken in many different directions including outlawing different religions, personal choices, or a different moral compass. This was the idea our founding fathers were most concerned with. They realized that the will of the majority was just as tyrannical as the monarch they had split with or the dictators of the world today. Remember that some of the worlds greatest tyrants have come forth due to democratic practices including Hitler, Chavez, and the Presidents of Iran.
Liberty and Democracy are not one in the same. Democracy seeks the will of the majority while liberty seeks the protection of the majority. The founding fathers understood this quite clearly. I am unsure if today's leaders remember this lesson.
Today we are coming to a point where the majority are pushing their will upon the minority. Every member of society must be protected from these whims no matter how rich or poor, weak or strong, or any other measure of difference.
Today's politicians, generally those from the left but also from the right, are pushing policies that seek to abrogate the rights of minorities because of the will of the majority. Liberals push for higher taxes on the minority who have had great success to benefit those who have made poor decisions. Conservatives push for the continual denial of personal rights they deem morally wrong. These are just few of many examples of the danger of those seekinig more democracy. The abrogation of minorities rights due to the will of the majority who seek greater benefits or in their view a society of greater morality. I will conclude with one final quote that brings much light to this disucssion by Alexander Tytler author of Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic.
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until voters discover...they can vote themselves [benefits] from the public treasury. From that moment, the majority always votes for candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
Ron Paul, Alexander Tytler, and H.L. Mecnken understand the danger that greater democracy brings. Too bad politicians today do not realize the same or perhaps they do. You make the call.
Our country's founders cherished liberty, not democracy.
--Ron Paul
Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
--H.L. Mencken
