WOLVES AND LAMBS by T. Edwin Perry
How many times have you heard the argument, “You’re not in charge of me! This is a Democracy!” Really? You think this is a democracy? Well, if you’ve ever used that argument, then this is the Blog for you, because I’m here to tell you that the United States of America IS NOT a Democracy, and that is a very, very good thing.
Thomas Jefferson said, “Democracy is nothing more than Mob Rule where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” It’s a pretty clear argument for why our Founders were opposed to establishing a true Democracy as our form of Government. Well, that and the fact that no True Democracy has EVER survived.
Now, as good as the Thomas Jefferson quote is to combat the “This is a Democracy” argument, I was recently reminded of another quote by Benjamin Franklin: “Democracy is Two Wolves and a Lamb voting on what to have for Lunch. Liberty is a Well-Armed Lamb contesting the vote!” (I’ve also heard it as “Two Foxes and a Chicken,” but the source goes to Franklin. Thanks for the suggestion, Bob.)
James Madison described democracy this way: “A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person.” Every decision requires the “mob rule” approval of 51% of all citizens, whether it is to turn on the lights or to reform healthcare. It would, by its very essence, infringe upon the freedoms of individuals to earn a living, care for their families or even sit on the couch & relax, because those individuals would be required to spend all of their time casting votes one way or the other on every issue. It’s the primary reason that Democracies have failed throughout history.
In Greece, the birthplace of Democracy, they tried to combat this inevitability by changing the definition of one word: Citizen. Not every PERSON in Greece was permitted to vote: only those deemed worthy by education, nobility of birth or ownership of land, and, even then, the Democracy was too large and it collapsed under its own weight.
Our Founders didn’t create a Democracy, knowing that our population was too large to survive it, so they created something new: a Representative Republic. The aspects of Democracy in our country are limited to two distinctive arenas: the Selection of our Representatives and the Decisions of our Representatives. We don’t vote for every decision, but we do select our own Representatives. The purpose of this is to place in the hands of a small number of people the power to make the decisions for their constituents. If those Representatives don’t act according to the will of their constituents, they can be replaced when their constituents vote again. And, even when our Representatives vote on issues, Democracy is limited by requiring “Supermajorities” to pass any substantial legislative changes. Simple “Fifty-one Percent” majorities are insufficient for things like, say, Healthcare Reform or “Cap & Trade” legislation.
As we approach the Mid-Term Congressional elections, I encourage you to consider this perspective: You are a Lamb. You’re about to vote for a Wolf. Are you willing to be lunch? (Sorry: either way you vote, the candidate is a wolf.)
Take the time over the next few months to learn EVERYTHING about the candidates in your district. Take the time to ask the questions: Does this person believe in Big Government or Small Government? Does this person believe that the economy can be fixed by spending more, or spending less? More laws or fewer laws? Higher taxes or lower taxes? Don’t make it about party or just “Anybody But…” whoever is in office. And, when the time comes, take the time and VOTE!
If you have to be a lamb, at least be well-armed!
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