Mike Johnson. Mitch McConnell. Joe Biden. Chuck Schumer. Nancy Pelosi. The United States Congress.
The American people have nobody to blame but themselves.
It’s called “democracy.”
It may be surprising to us, but there have been thinkersdown through history who didn’t believe democracy is the optimal system of government. Here is a quotation from one of them:
“Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would at the same time be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.”
This same writer also penned this:
“Democracy is the most vile form of government.”
Most Americans would think such heretical words had to have been written by Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin or Attila the Hun, or some such tyrannical megalomaniac. Nancy Pelosi would probably say Donald Trump wrote them. But actually, the author of those sentiments was James Madison, the man given most of the credit for writing our Constitution. Yes, THAT James Madison. Hi
Now go back and read again, more carefully, what he wrote.
As strange as it may sound for an American in the 21stcentury to be saying this, there are actually some soundarguments against democracy. I can support Madison’s thesis in many ways. Look at the list I started this column with. Add Kamala Harris. Barak Obama. Bill Clinton. And Hillary. Two George Bushes. Jimmy Carter. Not to mention Adam Schiff, Lindsey Graham, California, thewhole Democratic Party, and you can add your own. I think this is (partially) what Mr. Madison had in mind. Occasionally, democracy does give us a Reagan or Trump, but that is the exception not the rule. Maybe once a generation.
By the way, just as an aside, Madison also said, “Disarm the people—that is the best and most effective way to enslave them.” Adolf Hitler DID agree with that. As did Joseph Stalin. And Mao Zedong. Joe Biden. Hopefully, Republicans won’t let that happen, but don’t take it to the bank.
Actually, in American history—and this is extremely important—democracy has been a gradual development. Women suffrage was put in the Constitution in 1920, though many could vote before that date. Many minorities were denied the vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 18-year-olds in 1971. Those are huge segments of the American population, well over 50%. In one significant sense, we could say the United States “democracy” is barely 100 years old.
An anecdote. I am (was) an historian by trade and spent about 25 years teaching history to college students, mostly 18-year-old freshmen, mostly Americans. One semester, I decided I would begin by giving the students a “pre-semester (non-credit) exam” on American history and culture. One of the multiple-choice questions was, “What is Jennifer Lopez known for?” Another of the questions was, “According to our Founding Fathers, what is the purpose of government?” Of the 30 or so students in that class, every single student knew that Jennifer Lopez is famous for her big butt. Not one student knew the purpose of government according to our Founding Fathers (to protect property). That class was in California (c. 2005). I tried.
These are the people we let choose our leaders now. And for the next generation. It’s probably already hopeless, folks.
While the above is anecdotal, it probably isn’t uncommon in America. And it explains exactly why so many mediocre, incompetent people have been elected to office. Give Evil and Mediocrity the vote and don’t be surprised if Evil and Mediocrity are elected. Madison would surely agree with that sentiment.
“In the U.S., [just over a century] of full-blown democracy has resulted in steadily increasing moral degeneration, family and social disintegration, and cultural decay in the form of continually rising rates of divorce, illegitimacy, abortion, and crime.” (Hans-Hermann Hoppe, “Democracy: The God That Failed”). Madison would no doubt have expected that, too.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” John Adams, our second President. Note his belief that democracies“murder themselves” and “commit suicide.” Does that describe what America is doing today?
Our “democracy” is not 250 years old; it has barelyreached 100. What will the next 100 years bring? Will there even be a next 100 years?
A democratic republic can only survive if the vast majority of people are moral, honorable, trustworthy, law-abiding, family-oriented, and patriotic. And the Uniparty in Congress is making sure that more and more Americans have less and less of those qualities. Because they don’t want democracy (they would lose), they want tyranny.
I wish Madison and Adams could come back to life and see America today. I know EXACTLY what they would say:
“We told you so.”
If our Founders didn’t establish a “democracy,” what DID they establish? Yes, a republic, but if the “people” are incompetent to rule, who should? I will discuss this in a future article. As always, the Founders’ true system is actually brilliant.
When stupidity and evil surpass wisdom and virtue among a people, democracy becomes the worst form of government possible.
Our failure to listen to history might cause our ultimate downfall.
Check my substack mklewis929.substack.com. There’s lots of other good stuff on Leftism, the Founders, etc., along with Biblical studies, so sign up. Follow me on Twitter: @thailandmkl. Read my western novels, Whitewater , River Bend, Return to River Bend, and Allie’s Dilemma all available on Amazon.
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