The Privacy and Rights of the Individual in a Republic - Essay Example

To the Republic for Which it Stands, Democracy in the U.S. For the last two years, people in the Middle East have revoltedagainst tyrannical governments in a widespread and bloody movement popularly called the “Arab Spring.” Thousands have taken to the streets demanding a democracy. The U.S. has entered prolonged military conflicts in foreign lands for the intended purpose of protecting democratic ideals and to deliver democracy to oppressed populations. However, the U.S. was not intended to be a democracy but a republic although it transformed into a representative democracy. The chants for democracy in the Middle East are actually people demanding freedom. In addition, they want governmental framework that will safeguard liberty and ensure the rule of law prevails over the current will of the people, a circumstance which would be termed a true democracy. The system of government in the U.S. is often called a democracy which is misleading and does not represent the true ideals of the country. The aspect of a republic, one that makes the system historically significant, is that is actually in opposition of a true democracy where the will of the majority would infringe upon the rights of the minority. The American Revolution was fought for three main reasons. The elite class sought self-governance, separate from Britain, so they could control the colonies themselves in order to further their self interests. They also wanted to keep slavery and take more land from the Native Americans. Britain was leaning toward abolishing slavery and had outlawed seizing land. George Washington is a prime example of those moneyed elite. He owned hundreds of slaves and was a land speculator. The Founding Fathers’ goals were not as altruistic as many history books describe them. However, they needed the common man to fight the war so they were forced to cede some power to them in the form of democratic principles. Neither the Constitution nor Declaration of Independence contains the word democracy. In fact the Founders often spoke out against the concept. Thomas Jefferson spoke of the “tyranny of the majority.” A Massachusetts Delegate to the Continental Congress, Elbridge Gerry, cautioned against an “excesses of democracy.” Future first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who advocated a restricted monarchy, declared that the people “seldom judge or determine right.” Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph wanted a government that would “restrain the fury of democracy.” (Marriott, 2003). It was obvious to the Founders that the majority would vote for whatever it thought it wanted on a whim without regard to the life, liberty or happiness of others. A democracy describes a government ruled by vote of the majority and includes a governing body to manage the mundane details of running a state but the majority rules over all. There may also be a constitution of sorts but with a majority vote any or all provisions could be altered or eliminated. A true democracy would be oppressive and chaotic, likely more so than an autocratic regime. (Marriott, 2003) In a republic, citizens have indirect influence over the affairs of state due to the power of the ballot box. They can vote for representatives who are ideologically aligned with them and vote out representatives who are not. The people do not, however, have a direct influence to deprive others of essential freedoms guaranteed to all. As an example, a city or state of predominantly Christians cannot vote to disallow the practice of Judaism. They cannot vote to disallow an Islamic Mosque being built across the street from where the twin towers fell. Not allowing the mosque is against the principles on which the nation was founded though most Americans don’t seem to understand that. If America was a true democracy, bigotry of the moment would dictate law and no other emerging nation would want to emulate that. They do want to emulate the U.S. and its rule of law because it’s not a democracy. “We rely on a republican form of government to protect all of our rights, even the rights of the minority. It is for this reason that we have at least one anti-democratic branch of government, namely the judicial branch.” (Krauser, 2012). By their nature, republics champion freedom but not because representatives are elected by the people but because they are required to by their constitution, the framework of laws governing the nation. The rational construction and consistency of a nation’s constitution in addition to the level of motivation its people have to abide it are the factors that actually allow them to be free. Maybe ironic to some, when democratic doctrines are incorporated into a republic the effects can be destructive to that republic and the concept of liberty. When a state offers a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is but one example. If 90 percent of a state population votes to limit civil liberties for a certain group, it doesn’t make it right. In fact many would argue it’s unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court has recently decided to rule on that very matter. In a true democracy, there would be no appeal to a higher authority; the people would be the final word. In theory, a majority of the populous could vote for restricting whatever speech offended them or they didn’t agree with at that particular time. Cowboy fans in Dallas could vote to ban the word Redskins within the city limits and, if under a democracy, probably would. That’s just a lighthearted case in point to illustrate other, much more mean-spirited possibilities. “There is no law in a democracy except whatever the majority of people say is the law.” (Marriott, 2003) Under a democracy, laws would be virtually meaningless and precedent non-existent. In the case of Casey Anthony, the Florida mother whose child Caley was found dead. It was a case and trial that held the attention of the entire country. In a democracy the trail would have appeared more like a game show. Citizens of Florida may have been able to vote much as they do on talent shows, the results calculated immediately on television at the end of the trial instead of waiting for a jury to weight the legal arguments. There is no doubt as to the verdict under the rules of a democracy. Casey was not proven to be responsible beyond a reasonable doubt and agree or not, justice prevailed, the legal system worked, the law was followed at least. Democracy equals lawlessness. A company goes to a town asking them to allow a factory that would poison the air and kill everything in a river running through the town. Citizens’ reason that they can still get water from upstream and prevailing winds blowing away from town would take the blackened air elsewhere. Because the town is in a depressed area, its people have little education and an unemployment rate at 25 percent, they vote 51-49 to allow the factory. A town 15 miles downstream has undrinkable water and the town downwind experiences a sudden increase in lung cancer. Democracy worked as its intended to. It’s true that politicians can be bought off by corrupt corporations but under a democracy everyone would be for sale at the expense of everyone else. Because citizens of the U.S. live in a representative democracy they have equal access to power. Some choose to exercise that power by voting, petitioning and organizing others to change living circumstances. Any changes must adhere to the Constitution. The rule of law, as defined by the Constitution is the only mechanism standing between coexistence and anarchy and is only available in a republic system of governance. The republican style of governing should be cherished by all freedom loving people. It means we all are protected by the law. Our lives are not dictated by those whose opinions happen to be in the majority at a certain time. Being an American means that even if you are in the vast minority, your right to life, liberty and the pursuit of justice is guaranteed regardless of the direction public opinion is pointed and direction the political wind is blowing. In a republic, the privacy and rights of the individual is recognized and protected, a fact that should be celebrated. Works Cited Krauser, Shane. Is True Liberty Found in a Republic or Democracy? Liberty Storm Radio. 2012. Web December 9, 2012. http://libertystormradio.com/is-true-liberty-found-in-a-republic-or-democracy/ Marriott, Alexander. Republic? Democracy? What’s the Difference? Capitalism magazine January 4, 2003. Web December 9, 2012. http://capitalismmagazine.com/2003/01/republic-democracy-whats-the-difference/ Read More