"What kind of government have you given us, Mister Franklin? A republic or a monarchy?" the lady asked.
"A republic, if you can keep it," Benjamin replied.
Today, America has a problem.
Those who consider themselves the chosen few believe it is their duty to control government for the many.
Chosen by whom is unclear. Nonetheless, they claim that obligation.
Historically, a democracy was a society where all citizens had a direct role in government. That may have worked reasonably well in a very small nation -- ancient Athens, for example -- but size quickly led to a system where voters chose a few to run the government while most other citizens worked their farms or other trades.
The problem comes when those few are far outnumbered by other citizens but they refuse to accept any disagreement, and insist their way is the right way, claiming an endorsement by some higher spiritual power as proof.
Call it righteousness.
There are in America today a righteous few who insist they are entitled to run the government a certain way that they claim is explained to them by some Higher Power.
Except that many others, with equal rights to vote for representatives in government, maintain that the Higher Power cited said nothing to them, or in any case it is not relevant whether or if said Higher Power intervened in current society.
Either way, the United States Constitution stipulates that religion is not relevant to choosing elected representatives, and especially that Congress "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Anybody who claims they can ignore that phrase and establish a specific way to honor such Higher Power is violating the Constitution.
As the Marx Brothers might have phrased it, "Who are you going to believe, the Constitution or some Higher Power?"
The two cannot be mixed.
The republic, as established in 1789, seems to be working reasonably well. Changing it threatens to cancel the unity of American states.
Today, America has a problem.
Those who consider themselves the chosen few believe it is their duty to control government for the many.
Chosen by whom is unclear. Nonetheless, they claim that obligation.
Historically, a democracy was a society where all citizens had a direct role in government. That may have worked reasonably well in a very small nation -- ancient Athens, for example -- but size quickly led to a system where voters chose a few to run the government while most other citizens worked their farms or other trades.
The problem comes when those few are far outnumbered by other citizens but they refuse to accept any disagreement, and insist their way is the right way, claiming an endorsement by some higher spiritual power as proof.
Call it righteousness.
There are in America today a righteous few who insist they are entitled to run the government a certain way that they claim is explained to them by some Higher Power.
Except that many others, with equal rights to vote for representatives in government, maintain that the Higher Power cited said nothing to them, or in any case it is not relevant whether or if said Higher Power intervened in current society.
Either way, the United States Constitution stipulates that religion is not relevant to choosing elected representatives, and especially that Congress "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Anybody who claims they can ignore that phrase and establish a specific way to honor such Higher Power is violating the Constitution.
As the Marx Brothers might have phrased it, "Who are you going to believe, the Constitution or some Higher Power?"
The two cannot be mixed.
The republic, as established in 1789, seems to be working reasonably well. Changing it threatens to cancel the unity of American states.
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