Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think this topic could prove fruitful. It could clarify people's basic political philosophy.

I am proud to say that I'm a small 'r' republican (and a big 'd' Democrat), but the second part is not what I'm after here.

Do you believe in republicanism or democracy? (Monarchists of whatever stripe need not apply.)

[Gopher]

Republicanism, of course. (I spell that with a capital "r" only because it begins my sentence.)

After reading your exchange with BLT on my impeachment thread, I am happy to report that, previous disagreements notwithstanding, I find myseld in complete agreement with you on this.

My only issues with our system right now are these: presidency has accumulated too much power and ought to be scaled back down to size; and the Senate needs to grow a pair -- and use them.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I did include 'Other' in my list, but added: Start your own poll and discussion elsewhere. It didn't show up, but that's OK with me.

[Ya-ta Boy]

The nature of internet discussions seems to require inflamatory statements to get things going...so here goes:


Small 'd' democracy is an inherently unstable and harmful political philosophy.

[Kuros]

We're talking about political and constitutional philosophy here, not political parties, right?

A dubious electoral idea

Annapolis, MD, or 'Naptown as I prefer, has decided to sign onto the National Popular Vote Plan. If enough States sign onto the plan, these States will have to form more than half of the electoral college altogether, Maryland's electoral votes will go to the Presidential candidate with the most popular votes. Here's the argument:

[Ya-ta Boy]

The UNDERWHELMING response leads me to believe that only 4 people actually know the difference between a republican and a democrat.

Maybe this is why the world is in such a mess. Current graduates (say the last 10 years or so) have been too busy learning about PC stuff or how to be attack dogs, but have no idea about which of the two most fundamental political views of the last 2 centuries they believe in.

[daskalos]

People, by and large, suck. Groups of people, by and large, suck more. So small "r" repbublicanism is, to paraphrase Churchill, the least sucky form of government. Pure democracy may (and I only say "may") work at the Town Hall Meeting level, but for larger groups, it's just mob rule.

Which is what ancient Athens learned, or failed to learn, before they were subsumed.

Small "d" democracy is also what is wrong with the state referendum system in the U.S. Mobs of people get to vote on any idea the demogogues can whip them up into thinking they have the right to vote on.

This became clear for me the last time (and I do mean the last time) I voted in a gay rights referendum. It is repulsive in the extreme that any raw majority of people should be able to decide upon the rights of citizenship for any subset of people.

In a pure democracy, what is right and just has no chance of prevailing against a slick manipulator of mercurial human emotion, which is a state of affairs no better than dictatorial decree.

Small "r" republicanism, as exemplified and widely ignored in the U.S. Constitution, puts many stop gaps between what a mob might wish for today but regret tomorrow.

[stevemcgarrett]

How about "Neither of the Above."

[daskalos]

[Kuros]

[Ya-ta Boy]

There's a serious shortage of democrats on this thread, which surprises me. Quite a few regular posters in this forum have indicated by their comments that they are democrats.

I was really hoping we'd get a decent discussion going. daskalos contributed an excellent republican summary.

Please respond, democrats.

[stevemcgarrett]

Sorry, I don't play simplistic dichotomies in politics.

Regardless, what we sorely need in the U.S. is a viable third party with moderate views and realistic expectations, drawing on the best traditions of both parties.

[Kuros]

[Ya-ta Boy]