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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tenchusatsu who wrote (1540443)	5/28/2025 11:29:03 PM
From: Maple MAGA	2 Recommendations Recommended By longz Mick Mørmøny Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1572510

The January insurrection would have been small potatoes to Jefferson. “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. ... God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion; what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms." Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787 Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and most of the Constitution, but he never believed the Constitution was fixed, it was always subject to change. “We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but to bind the succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country.” Thomas Jefferson To Jefferson, the occasional uprising wasn't necessarily a crisis, it was a corrective. That 1787 quote to William Stephens Smith is a clear endorsement of the idea that resistance, even violent resistance, can be a healthy sign of a vigilant and liberty-minded populace. In that spirit, something like the January 6th riot, while chaotic and unlawful, would not have shocked Jefferson in principle. He might have disapproved of the causes or the execution, but not the idea that the people could rise up in fury against what they perceive as tyranny. Jefferson also believed the Constitution was not sacred scripture. He famously wrote that laws and institutions must evolve with time, each generation has its own needs and cannot be forever chained to the past. That quote about each generation being “a distinct nation” captures it perfectly. He thought it absurd for the dead to govern the living.

To: Tenchusatsu who wrote (1540443)	5/29/2025 12:53:39 AM
From: Maple MAGA	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1572510

Shitshatsu, the statement that “the United States is not a democracy, it is a constitutional republic” is technically correct but often misunderstood or used rhetorically. Here's a clear breakdown: The statement that “the United States is not a democracy, it is a constitutional republic” is technically correct but often misunderstood or used rhetorically. Here's a clear breakdown: Why Say "Not a Democracy"? Direct vs. Representative Democracy: In a pure/direct democracy, citizens vote on laws and policies themselves. The U.S. is a constitutional republic, meaning: It’s governed by elected representatives. The Constitution limits majority power to protect minority rights (e.g., Bill of Rights). Laws are not made by popular vote but by officials bound to constitutional principles. Founders’ Intent: The Founders distrusted mob rule. James Madison, in Federalist No. 10, warned of factions and the dangers of direct democracy. They designed a system with checks and balances, electoral colleges, and separation of powers to avoid tyranny by majority or minority. Great Thinkers & Leaders Who Opposed or Critiqued Democracy Plato (Greek philosopher): In The Republic, Plato viewed democracy as flawed because it gave power to the uninformed masses. He believed it could devolve into tyranny, as people choose popular but unwise leaders. Aristotle: Classified democracy as a “deviant” form of government—mob rule—as opposed to polity (a balanced rule by the many for the common good). He believed democracy prioritized quantity over virtue or competence. John Adams (U.S. Founding Father): Wrote: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.” Preferred a republic governed by laws and principles, not popular sentiment. Alexander Hamilton: Was wary of giving too much power to the populace, fearing instability and populist demagogues. Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister): Famously said: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried.” A backhanded endorsement, highlighting democracy's flaws but recognizing its relative superiority. Friedrich Nietzsche: Loathed democracy as a breeding ground for mediocrity and herd mentality. Advocated for aristocratic values and the “Übermensch” ideal over egalitarianism. Carl Schmitt (German political theorist): Criticized liberal democracy for being self-contradictory and vulnerable to internal enemies. Influenced many critiques of parliamentary systems. Bottom Line The U.S. is a democracy in the broader sense (it’s ruled by the people via elected officials), but it's a constitutional, representative democracy, designed to resist the instability of pure majoritarian rule. Critics of democracy, ancient and modern, often feared: Ignorance of the masses Emotional populism Mob rule over reason Erosion of tradition or virtue