Writing from Miami, Florida
Would you rather live in a republic or a democracy?
In an article by the economist Walter E. Williams (Are we a republic or a democracy?) we discover the difference between a republic and a democracy:
So what’s the difference between republican and democratic forms of government? John Adams captured the essence of the difference when he said, “You have rights antecedent to all earthly governments; rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe.” Nothing in our Constitution suggests that government is a grantor of rights. Instead, government is a protector of rights.
In recognition that it’s Congress that poses the greatest threat to our liberties, the framers used negative phrases against Congress throughout the Constitution such as: shall not abridge, infringe, deny, disparage, and shall not be violated, nor be denied. In a republican form of government, there is rule of law. All citizens, including government officials, are accountable to the same laws. Government power is limited and decentralized through a system of checks and balances. Government intervenes in civil society to protect its citizens against force and fraud but does not intervene in the cases of peaceable, voluntary exchange.
Contrast the framers’ vision of a republic with that of a democracy. In a democracy, the majority rules either directly or through its elected representatives. As in a monarchy, the law is whatever the government determines it to be. Laws do not represent reason. They represent power. The restraint is upon the individual instead of government. Unlike that envisioned under a republican form of government, rights are seen as privileges and permissions that are granted by government and can be rescinded by government.
I suppose that if you happen to hold the same beliefs as the majority in a democracy, you’re in a good position — unless you want to let others believe and live differently.
Another good article by Dr. Williams on this subject is How to create conflict.
Related posts:
- The Invasiveness of Government
- Importance of economic freedom explained in Wichita
- Thoughts on Constitution Day
- The right to health care
- Plato to speak to Pachyderms
- Understanding the Responsibility of Liberty
- Property rights should control Kansas smoking decisions
- Testimony opposing Kansas smoking ban
- A free society means inalienable rights
- Limits of government and rights of people to be addressed in Wichita
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
a republic has elements of democracy, aristocracy, and a monarchy. or so i gathered from discourses on livy by machiavelli.(a small r republican)
A most needed post.
My website has a number of pages that define republicanism in detail.
Sorry, the link became corrupted on the last post. Try this one.
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