BuckToothMoron
Gold Member
- Apr 3, 2016
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We hear it all the time. The founders didn't want democracy; they wanted a 'republic'. The distinction is usually made by conservatives to defend any undemocratic aspects of our system of government -
those that just so happen to suit the conservative agenda.
Well, how about we hear what a real founding father really said about this thing 'republic'.
Thomas Jefferson:
"It must be acknowledged that the term republic is of very vague application in every language... Were I to assign to this term a precise and definite idea,
I would say purely and simply it means a government by its citizens in mass, acting directly and personally according to rules established by the majority; and that every other government is more or less republican in proportion as it has in its composition more or less of this ingredient of direct action of the citizens.
Such a government is evidently restrained to very narrow limits of space and population. I doubt if it would be practicable beyond the extent of a New England township." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816. ME 15:19
Get it? Jefferson EQUATES 'republic' to 'direct democracy', with only the caveat that a direct democracy becomes impractical in larger areas of space and population.
Never does he say that democracy and republic are distinct or separate entities.
Jefferson again:
"A democracy [is] the only pure republic, but impracticable beyond the limits of a town." --Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1816. ME 15:65
.Once again, he does NOT differentiate between democracy and republic,
he equates them.
And Jefferson continues:
"The first shade from this pure element which, like that of pure vital air cannot sustain life of itself, would be where the powers of the government, being divided, should be exercised each by representatives chosen either pro hac vice, or for such short terms as should render secure the duty of expressing the will of their constituents. This I should consider as the nearest approach to a pure republic which is practicable on a large scale of country or population.
There he explains how a representative democracy, or republic, should function, when a pure (direct) democracy, aka a republic, is impractical.
And one more...
"We may say with truth and meaning that governments are more or less republican as they have more or less of the element of popular election and control in their composition..." Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816. ME 15:23
I suggest that before certain people spout off about what the founders believed, they actually find out what the founders believed.
Jefferson on Politics & Government: Republican Principles
Kudos to you for researching and now acknowledging that Jefferson along with the other founders realized that pure democracy or pure Republic was not practical for the entire country.
Such a government is evidently restrained to very narrow limits of space and population. I doubt if it would be practicable beyond the extent of a New England township." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816.