1Declaration: Free Markets, Free People, Free Minds

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

Check out what Libertarian Presidential nominee Bob Barr has to say about our energy policy and the energy policy of other candidates.

The United Nations is an overpayed and overhyped international organization that has failed to take action on many of the world's problems.

On this day in 1945 the U.S. and other countries signed the United Nations Charter. Unfortunately, “the UN has been an enormous disappointment,” says Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr. “The U.S. should push to roll back the UN’s functions and slash America’s financial contribution.”

The United Nations since its inception has not sought to fulfill a role in resolving international problems. Instead it has tried to invade the sovereignty of individual countries and is continually trying to usurp governmental authority.

The UN does not uphold the principles of the United States. For example, the United Nations has placed tyrants on the boards of Human Right's Abuse, which has made the effectiveness of the organization a complete joke.

Expectations for the UN initially were high: before the signing, President Harry S. Truman said “At no time in history has there been a more important Conference than this one.” Obviously, “President Truman had no sense of history,” notes Barr. “America’s constitutional convention always had a much better claim to that honor.”

Read the whole article here: Bob Barr Says U.S. Must Cut United Nations Role and Budget — Bob Barr 2008

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This quote is hard for liberals, socialists, and statists to understand for some reason. "Every living human being is an end in himself..." What does that mean?

This is another way of saying that every individual is liable for their own successes and failures in life. It is their decisions that will influence the direction of their life in either a positive or negative direction. Personal decisions will dictate the course of every individuals life.

Liberals, socialists, and statists will tell you that your course in life is dictated almost entirely by the outside influences of the greedy, the corrupt, and the tie that holds both of those together, the rich. They argue that it is the rich in society that holds people down. But the question is how did these people become rich. Many were not born into privelged homes, or had money given to them by a friend or family member. The rich in society have worked hard and made proper decisions that have landed themselves in the position they are in.

Is it societies fault that a teenager becomes pregnant or is it a result of poor personal decision? Is it societies fault that people succomb to drug and alcohol abuse or is it poor decision? Is it societies doing that makes some individuals rich and others poor? The answer to all of this is a resounding no!

Relying on the others for your success will always lead to disappointment and a maintenance of your current level in life. Government programs in the same sense cannot bring wealth or success. Wealth and success are an achievement of personal sacrifice, sound choices, and realization that achievement of individuals is the result of personal responsibility.

In other words, your destiny is fully in your control!

Just as life is an end in itself, so every living human being is an end in himself, not the means to the ends or the welfare of others - and, therefore, man must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.--Ayn Rand

Libertarian Presidential Nominee Bob Barr appeared on the Glenn Beck Show on June 25, 2008. Here is a excerpt from the interview.

“What I am doing, and what I intend to do though the remaining months of this campaign, is raise the issues that neither of the two major party candidates are raising. Questions and issues that go to the fundamental nature of why government has gotten so big, why its spending so much money, why its invading our privacy, why we are seeing court decisions like [Kennedy v. Louisana]. These are issues that are important to the American people, not the issues being discussed by Senator McCain and Senator Obama.” - Bob Barr

Barr now becoming a regular guest