Rob, I have already made the distinction elsewhere that our constitution and other institutions do safeguard the rights of the individual and the minority, both by laws passed and the purview of the supreme court - as established in the constitution. That in response to those persons on the far right who are painting the picture as if we are now living in a democracy where the unwashed, drugged, Big Mack eating, cake eating majority tramples on the minority in an unlimited fashion. We live in a democracy and a republic - a democratic republic. As stated elsewhere, a tension always exists as to where the lines should be drawn, and always will. That tension in and of itself is not unhealthy, it requires us to think and recheck ourselves if we seem to be straying. I do have problem with the destructive use of language by some on the right who are unwilling to make subtle and important distinctions. They paint everyone they disagree with a very broad and black brush. Every day we hear our president being called a socialist, a communist, a fascist, a Nazi, a Black Muslim, etc. etc. As an unrepentant liberal, I have been called a Nazi on more than one occasion by some on the far right with whom I have had discussions. (As a lifelong pacifist, I am probably the only such member of the Nazi party) Such use of language is done to demonize those with whom they disagree with, without ever confronting the ideas and merits of the policies, and arguing against them on the same playing field of philosophy and facts. If you are going to call Obama or Pelosi or others a socialist or communist, then define your terms. Say what a socialist is in terms of generally accepted definitions of what a socialist is, and then demonstrate how the other person meets that criteria in terms of their beliefs and application of them in action. And do so rigorously and honestly, setting a high standard for yourself in the use of language. Then you have the right to be taken seriously in what you say. Instead, what we get are aspersions cast about freely without backing any of it up. He's a commie because I say he is. Language used in such fashion may be effective politics - it seemed to have worked in this election where people are fearful and not making distinctions they should be making. But it is terrible and destructive to the fabric of our democracy. I think we would both be in agreement that our democracy seems to be unraveling at the seams right now. Because of how we now talk to each other. Will -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Rob McCall Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 4:21 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Medical costs (OT!) was:billing dilemmawith pitch raises Will, Did you even read the link that I posted? The questions you asked are answered within. I'll repost it here. http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/AmericanIdeal/aspects/demrep.html Here's a quote from within to spare you the trouble.. "These two forms of government: Democracy and Republic, are not only dissimilar but antithetical, reflecting the sharp contrast between (a) The Majority Unlimited, in a Democracy, lacking any legal safeguard of the rights of The Individual and The Minority, and (b) The Majority Limited, in a Republic under a written Constitution safeguarding the rights of The Individual and The Minority" The way the United States was founded was as a Republic, and it sounds an awful lot like (b) above. To give an example... If I want to say something bad about the President, say, for instance, that I think he's a Socialist. In a Democracy, I could be overridden by a majority vote of the population simply because they don't like me or what I say. They could take away my right to say bad things. Now in a Republic, like the United States, I have a Constitution that LIMITS the government from preventing me from speaking my mind, as outlined in the Bill of Rights, the so-called Freedom of Speech. I, as an individual, am protected from the Majority simply taking away my rights because they desire to, by the Constitution. What you think of as a Democracy, by the people electing a President, and a Congress, and a Senate is merely the way our country is run as outlined in the Constitution. That's how the founders decided to set up our government. 3 separate branches, all operating as checks and balances to each other. The Congress or the President doesn't dictate when there is going to be an election or if they want to take away your rights to assemble, or speak, or choose your own religion, or own a gun, or have a right to a jury trial. The people we vote for cannot take those away because our Republic LIMITS their abilities within the confines of the Constitution. Now, sure... they can create an amendment to the Constitution, as they've done a couple dozen times in the last 230 years, but it's not an easy or arbitrary process. As for telling you what to think, I would never want that job, nor do I have the right to. I simply want a limited government that let's me have my freedoms... my inalienable freedoms that I, and you, are entitled to, as spelled out in the Constitution. No sunglasses needed... :-) Rob Oh, by the way... You don't really elect a President. The citizens of the US never have. You vote for an electorate. THEY vote for the President and Vice President. And they have the legal authority to vote for someone other than who you want them to vote. Not quite what you envisioned? A President can win the popular vote by a landslide and still lose the election, as outlined by the Constitution. Again, this was to protect the rights of the smaller states, the minority... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States) On Nov 02, 2010, at 16:08 , William Truitt wrote: > Since I really love democracy, I think I'll go out and find a mob, and do some looting and pillaging. Can't help myself, it's my mentality. > > Pray tell, if it was never intended to be a democracy, why have we been electing people for the last 230 plus years? Who creates the laws in this Republic For Which We Stand? Inquiring minds want to know. Don't tell the people they've been doing it all wrong all these years, they'll be REALLY disappointed. I guess this means you get to be charge and tell the rest of us what to think, right? > > Will > (Glaring at you - put on your sunglasses - special prescription for myopia..)
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