Where’s the Democracy?
To the Editor,
Ipledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. With my right hand on my heart, I pledge loyalty to the Republic — where’s the Democracy?
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic ... so help me God.
With my right hand raised that is the oath I swore when I entered the miltary to express my resolve to this county.
Where’s the Democracy? I don’t remember expressing loyalty to a Democracy or swearing an oath to protect and defend a Democracy.
The way I understand it, the USA is a Constitutional Republic. We could call it a Representative Republic with a Constitution, or even a Constitutional Republic with democratic features. The word Democracy cannot define adequately our form of government.
Our Republic has a Constitution with rule of law and morality and these two characteristics come from a higher power than a collective people or a government.
A Democracy has no standard to depend on or follow. It is totally dependent upon motive and intent of the people or their representatives Democracy just doesn’t fit a self-ruled people under God. It’s hard to imagine this nation lasting 248 years solely on whims, trends, or popular notions of a group of people with different goals, different cultures and different concepts of truth.
Like a man said once, “America is great because America is good, and when America stops being good, she will no longer be great.”
Who defines good, not a Democracy, only a value system based upon a loving transcendent God, who gave us His book. The Bible is to the Christian what our Constitution is to a citizen of America. And when the citizenry becomes apathetic, lax, or ignorant of their rights, privileges, and freedoms in our Constitution, then the reigning political party can obtain control of legislative, political, and judicial institutions, and turn them into you the people rather than we the people.
It’s important to know what a Constitutional Republic is versus a Democracy. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. — Proverbs 14:34.
Larry Gene Garrett Newcastle
