“…democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths…” James Madison, Federalist #10, 1787-1788
The federal government was purposely designed in a way to prevent becoming a democracy in the future. America was designed as a Republic, not a democracy. What is the difference? What is the weakness of a democracy when compared to a Republic? Democracy has no restraint on government power and allows government and its minions to create and use unlimited power and force against the individual. The term “Democracy” (like “fair“) is not included in the Declaration of Independence or Constitution of our nation or the Constitution of any of the 50 states. James Madison explained why a democracy was purposely NOT chosen for the proposed new Federal Government. What was the reason? The causes of faction and the planned way of dealing with the problem for preventing faction. Madison explains further:
By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
“The inference to which we are brought is, that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects.”
You might ask yourself; Faction? What is faction? “why is Madison writing and explaining the subject of “faction”? Recognize, admit and accept ignorance. Ignorance, not in a pejorative sense. Ignorance in a good way. Realize there is so much “we” truly do not understand. Be curious, explore, learn, and seek understanding. The transition in education and the public use by leaders’ arguing for true “democracy” was purposeful in order to remove the chains built to prevent the inevitable wrongs “faction” allows with unlimited power. Engender ignorance in “the People” with a false sense of knowledge and thereby remove the protections which prohibit and restrain faction. Then create, expand, and magnify faction, in order to use unlimited power to destroy the individual, and thereby extinguish liberty. Is this the raison d’être for “community organizing”? Consider with more context Madison’s thoughts:
… From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths….
A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking.
“the cure” ? The cure to preventing the creation and use of unlimited power that faction provides. Learn how a Republic cures the problems of democracy in Federalist # 10 here. This 10 minute video explains by comparing and contrasting the various forms of government and why our founders worked to prevent “democracy”. Learn and understand for yourself why America is not a democracy. Then educate your friends, neighbors, and relatives. Illuminate truth, share understanding, and thereby identify false prophets.
The Oil for Your Lamp 
So, faction = special interest groups. In a democracy, they can “organize” into larger political voting blocks to force their will on the rest of society. But in a republic, the rule of law protects the people from these factions by protecting the rights of the smallest minority — the individual — right?
Joe, correct.
I just edited the post above to include Madison’s definition of faction. A faction can be any group, even a political party, with just more power than the other.
In a Republic, the “rule of Law” applies to everyone equally, including the smallest minority, the individual. A Republic based upon the “Rule of Law” ensures the minority can keep factions restrained or “in check” since equal protection under the law requires all laws written to apply to everyone in the same manner. Whereas in a democracy, a more powerful faction can write its own laws to abuse any “less popular” group, including the individual, as it wishes. A society based upon the “rule of man” encourages the abuse of “others” since what is 50.0001 percent more “popular” wins/rules. “Popular” encourages “might makes right.” Factions seek just enough consensus to create a smaller group they can steal from, (the “less popular”.) Factions “sell” what is “fair” to their supporters, not justice and equality/equal treatment under the law.
Do the rights of the individual truly get represented in a Republic? Eminent Domain, Obamacare, Taxation at Progressively Higher rates, and Corporate Cronyism are all examples of where the Republic appears to have behaved much like a democracy.
txfatherofseven,
that’s because the republic has been “fundamentally transformed” into a democracy (more like Fascist dictatorship — but whose counting?)
Why did the checks and balances fail?
Because the government ignored them, the States didn’t say anything and we — the People — didn’t do anything about any of it.
Txfatherof7,
Because “we the people” were purposely made ignorant by our educators, religious leaders, & political leaders. Once those who remembered where America came from died, then the self anointed “elite” began to use government for illegal actions, and “the people” didn’t realize the actions were illegal.
Those who understood the actions were illegal were seeking the illegalities and personally profiting.
texas,
True — in part. But we must remember that, in a self-governing republic, the people have a DUTY to educate themselves. Putting those duties off on others is one of the primary reasons we are where we are now.
“The people” failed to keep themselves and their children educated. They failed to hold the educators and religious leaders accountable. Then “the People” were to ignorant to hold their representatives, senators, president, and judges accountable when they failed in their duties to uphold our Constitution.
Now for the good news. With the invention of the internet, “the People” are turning away from government-run propaganda, are re-discovering truth, and are re-learning the foundations of our country that were purposely buried and hidden by those in power so long ago.
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