In an excellent op-ed published today in Human Events magazine, noted economist, professor, and columnist Walter E. Williams makes an important distinction between liberty and democracy. Democracy, according to Williams, is a dangerous form of government that the Framers of the U.S. Constitution loathed. Liberty is protected not by 'democracy' but by a 'republican' form of government in which a Constitution protects the rights of the individual against the wishes of the majority.
Williams made the comment in reaction to the chorus of praise among the mainstream media, the White House, and Leftwing pundits who claim that the unrest in the Middle East is a 'grassroots movement of citizens who cry for democracy.'
That 'cry for democracy,' says Williams, is one in which those who love liberty can take no comfort:
James Madison, in Federalist Paper No. 10, said that in a pure democracy, "there is nothing to check the inducement to sacrifice the weaker party or the obnoxious individual." At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Virginia Gov. Edmund Randolph said, "... that in tracing these evils to their origin every man had found it in the turbulence and follies of democracy." John Adams said, "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." Alexander Hamilton said, "We are now forming a Republican form of government. Real Liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy, or some other form of dictatorship."
Williams goes further to state that nowhere in any of the founding documents of the United States of America is the word 'democracy' to be found. To the contrary, the U.S. Constitution declares, 'to every state in this union a Republican form of Government.'
The differences between a 'democracy' and a 'republic' are vast. Inherent to the notion of a democracy is 'majority rule,' meaning that by a simple majority vote a society could negate every single individual right of citizens. The Framers considered such a form of government to be outright tyranny tantamount to a monarchy or dictatorship. A republic, on the other hand, protects the God-given rights of citizens against the will of the majority by means of a written Constitution that carries the weight of 'the rule of law, not of men.'
Williams drives home this point in this quote from the Framers:
What's the difference between republican and democratic forms of government? John Adams captured the essence 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." That means Congress does not grant us rights; their job is to protect our natural or God-given rights.
Central to the form of government handed down to us by the Framers is the crucial concept that rights are not created nor granted by governments. Governments can either choose to protect or deny the rights that are inherent to our existence as human beings who are 'endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.'
Thus, in the Middle East the cry for democracy is no hopeful sign, given that the majority believe that government should be under the control of radical Islam, in which citizens have no liberty at all. With polls showing that over 80% of Egyptians believe that women caught in adultery and Muslims who defect from Islam should be executed, if such propositions were to be put to a majority vote, then government-sanctioned slaughter would lead to a blood-bath of epic proportions.
The very same prinicple applies to the current ongoing controversy in Wisconsin, Indiana, and other states regarding public sector unions and budget cuts. Citizens have a right to associate themselves with whoever they want. They have a right to join a union. But the states in question leave citizens with no choice if they choose, for example, to teach. Joining the union is a conditiion of employment, which tramples on the rights of workers NOT to associate with entities or individuals they wish to avoid. And joining a union does not automatically give public sector workers the right to strike against the taxpayers.
When President Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers who walked off the job and went on strike during the early 1980s, it was noted that each had signed a pledge when they were hired not to strike against the taxpayers even if they belong to a union. Nothing in the Constitution recognizes an unalienable right to strike, especially since government employees play a role of vital importance to the survival, safety, and security of citizens.
Should soldiers be allowed to strike if the country is in the middle of a war, fighting for its survival? Should Border Patrol agents be allowed to strike when terrorists and drug cartels seek entry into the country? Should police officers be allowed to strike in the middle of a natural disaster or a terrorist hit, or any other time for that matter?
It is hard to make a rationial case for an 'unalienable right' to strike, although citizens do have a right to join whatever organization they wish, even unions. And it is very hard for unions to make a case for the liberty of individuals when in many states such individuals are not given the liberty to say no to a union.
'Democracy' and 'liberty'...they are eons apart.
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Comments
Anyone who has really read Rousseau ought to know that.
But alas, my friend, most American are clueless as to the distinction. And many of those who DO know the difference deliberately push 'democracy' in order to trample on the rights of individuals in lieu of the 'will of the collective majority.' Thus, 'democracy,' as used by these subversives, is nothing but a means by which to spread collectivism.
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner...
Liberty is a well armed sheep, contesting the vote.
Marxism flaunts the idea to instill democracy in order to destroy a country.
It is the MSM that keeps pounding peoplkes heads that we live in a democracy, the government loves it because then they can create a problem and then get the people to vote away their rights over it.
What we have become is a plutocratic fascist authoritarian dictatorship, thanks to BOTH parties.
Were you asked to go fight an illegal war, were you asked if income taxes were constitutional, were you asked anything the government is doing?...I wasnt, and they do not have my consent.
Were you or I asked if OUR money should go to Israel? NO, I wasnt, that means they are doing without consent of the governed, and that means they lost the priveledge of governing. THEY decided the Constitutional CONTRACT was null and void, which makes the federal government an enemy of the people and a hostile occupier.
The PEOPLE are the country, not the government, so anyone want to complain that we dont support our government, no matter what party they are in, they are government worshippers. Patriotism is to the people, not the president or any other government costumed idiot.
The people ae supposed to be the government, and the elected officials to carry out what we say within the lines of the Constitution, but people are not properly informed thanks to the lying MSM.
I would suggest reading atlas shrugged, that seems to be the thing going on here.
Right on Anthony. We are and have always been a republic.
You apparently have not looked out your window recently, when the government created homeland stupidity, they threw out the 5th and 4th amendments, and the 2nd is constantly under attack, as well as the first...remember Bushes free speech zones?
The 13th amendment is violated by income and property taxes, the 10th amendment is like it doesnt exist. Should I go on?
Intersting Topic - I wrote an article on my blog yesterday titled "Democracy Kills" covering the same thing! I'm glad that I'm not alone in seeing the danger in this "democracratic uprising"... we are headed into a long period of conflict and atrocious human rights violations... all in the name of the majority rule system - Democracy...
Democracy is easily hijacked when you control the flow of information. The MSM does just that.
They created the divide and conquer technique so one side will hate the other side so bad, they will vote away the rights for their nemisis, not realizing they also voted away the rights of themselves until they try to excercise that right.
" Nothing in the Constitution recognizes an unalienable right to strike,"
But there is something in there that says we CAN REMOVE the tyrants, if a company is being tyranical, then YES, you have a DUTY to counter evil.
A strike is a tool used to walk out because the situation has become rancid, you have every right to say NO, only slaves cannot say no. It is a barganing chip used when management gets out of line and abuses those workers, you take away their voice, YOU are the tyrant.
"many states such individuals are not given the liberty to say no to a union."
Its not individuals saying no to unions, it is a corrupt government, they only do things when THEY gain from it, they care not for your individualism in the least.
Any individual CAN say no to unions if they please, that is also why there is a prevailing wage, so non-union groups can do the work right along side of the union guys. Now the NY unions are a different story, I worked with them and they take full advantage of the union rules, but only to benefit themselves of course. Go after the leadership of the unions, not the people who rely on them for work.
"With polls showing that over 80% of Egyptians believe that women caught in adultery ..."
And that is a bad thing? Im sure it sure put a damper on being a slut didnt it, they dont have half the social problems we have here.
Put it this way, by their laws and that of the Bible, a thief will only be able to steal twice, then he will be out of the five finger discount program due to not having any more fingers. I doubt they have half the theft problems we have here now and today.
All those who think your wife cheating on you is a good thing, please raise your hand.
Currently there is no punishment for being screwed over by your spouse, and look at the marriage statistics, and the unequal protection under the law.
A woman doesn't have to be caught in adultery. She may be stoned on mere suspicion with no proof or even evidence. And last time I heard,it takes two to tango. Even when a man is stoned for,say,being gay he is buried to his chest so he at least has a fighting chance. A woman is buried to her neck. What about the girls who firefighters weren't allowed to rescue simply because they weren't wearing burkas? This is a culture steeped in hatred for women,not just loose women.
Until now I thought you could be somewhat reasonable but it looks as if your emotions rule your thinking.
Hey RSBL.
Is there a relocation in your plans?
I'm thinking Iran would be the most fitting place for your to move. Sounds like you'd fit in quite well.
What's your anticipated departure date?
Bon Voyage and happy times ahead, eh.
Anthony writes:
"...Democracy, according to Williams, is a dangerous form of government that the Framers of the U.S. Constitution loathed. Liberty is protected not by 'democracy' but by a 'republican' form of government in which a Constitution protects the rights of the individual against the wishes of the majority."
Some of the founding fathers had valued input on this. The ultimate protection against abuse of individual rights is not a republican form of government or even a set of checks and balances being a part f it. Rather liberty is secured by the people or more specifically the degree to which their moral fiber supports an enlightened self-interest.
The real problem with public sector unions is a moral one. They lead to the degradation of our political process through the buying of politicians for a singular purpose i.e. to cave into union negotiating demands. The interests of taxpayers are all too often not represented at the table. It is union money and power that is in the foremost of the minds of politicians and not John Q. Public. That's intrinsically immoral and at opposition to the cause of liberty. The left will make a strong stand on unions precisely because it values statism over liberty.
DominioFeminino - Mr. Anthony this article is a great lesson for us people of Latin America, unaware of what a true Republic and Liberty. Thank you. I really hope that the American people know this better than us.
Dominio writes:
"I really hope that the American people know this better than us."
That may have been true at an earlier stage in our history but, judging by the degree to which special interests have taken control of the political process, that does not appear to be the case today.
If you hate unions so much...and no, im not a lefty, then you got to go after ALL the unions, why did they leave out the police unions and fire unions? This is special treatment thats why, favoritism, they need the police to crush any protests, but, the police dont realize thy will be next on the chopping block.
How about getting rid of the union of bankers, not really an official union in the sense of the word, but they are a special club that manipulates the wealth of the country more than unions ever did.
I fully agree. There's no reason to exclude Police and Firefighters from the same sacrifices ask of other union members.
Frankly, neither the states nor the country can survive if unions are continued to be allowed in public sector jobs.
Unions are outdated institutions which have become the enemy of the non-union citizenry.
Having a public servant position is a privilege not a right and is subject to the discretion of the taxpayers.
Police unions are fair game as are any special interest groups. That's the point of emphasizing the moral context of this. If it's about the interests of your own group of at the expense of the rest of us then it's not an enlightened self-interest.
"'Democracy' and 'liberty'...they are eons apart."
Aint that the truth, get em Anthony.
Dear Lord, I ask you today to manage affairs so that I will not have to take up arms against my fellow citizens who have risen up against us. However, if that not be your will, I ask that you make my resolve like steel, my hands steady and my aim true.
Please place your protective hand upon my beloved U.S. of America and bless her with your bounty.
Amen.
Excellent post and posted on my Facebook page. Have you banned the leftist offal? I don't see their wailings to a post that is sure to offend them!
Anthony has been reported for making threats against me, legal action may follow...news at 11.
I sent copies of all your name calling and deletions to Examiner and explained that you are violating its terms of service.
Good day
Anyone else who would like Anthony removed from here can do the same, enough of his garbage here.
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