"Unless a people remain educated and informed, it is idle to expect the continuace of civil liberty, or the capacity for self-government."
-Texas Declaration of independence
Athenian democracy was based on the premise that the public body is the agent best able to determine what will best serve it, i.e. 'I know what's best for me.' In contrast, the founders of American democracy were convinced that the public body would elect competent agents to exercise governmental authority for their good, i.e. 'YOU know what's best for me.'
There is an exceptional myth going about that American government is a 'true' democracy. Bunk. America is a Republic consisting of democratically elected officials (in most cases).
The percieved failure of american government to carry out the will of the people is not relevant to the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution. What was relevant to them is that the elected officials take action that furthers the public good, which they do not do either consistently or often. The reason for this is that neither the officials nor the voters who elect them have continued in the practice of discretion, good judgement, and personal and civil virtue.
Slashdot Mirror
I think not.
"Unless a people remain educated and informed, it is idle to expect the continuace of civil liberty, or the capacity for self-government."
-Texas Declaration of independence
Athenian democracy was based on the premise that the public body is the agent best able to determine what will best serve it, i.e. 'I know what's best for me.' In contrast, the founders of American democracy were convinced that the public body would elect competent agents to exercise governmental authority for their good, i.e. 'YOU know what's best for me.'
There is an exceptional myth going about that American government is a 'true' democracy. Bunk. America is a Republic consisting of democratically elected officials (in most cases).
The percieved failure of american government to carry out the will of the people is not relevant to the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution. What was relevant to them is that the elected officials take action that furthers the public good, which they do not do either consistently or often. The reason for this is that neither the officials nor the voters who elect them have continued in the practice of discretion, good judgement, and personal and civil virtue.