United States: The Greatest Experiment (Part I)

In order to know who and what we are, it is crucial, and I cannot stress enough the importance, to know what form of government is in operation. In recent decades, we are being programmed to believe that a Democracy is the "ideal" form of government, of course, this programming is initiated in our schools, media, politicians, universities, world leaders, et cetera. If one reads the founding documents, the Constitutional Convention transcripts, and the letters of our Founding Fathers, he or she will discover that they spoke very poorly of Democracy. These men concurred that a Democracy was one of the worst forms of government; therefore, they created a Republic. The word Democracy does not appear anywhere in the Constitution for the United States of America or the constitutions of the several States.

First, what is government? Government is a mixture of natural and political law, and the manner in which sovereignty is exercised in each State.[1] Natural law is unalienable rights "given" at birth, or also known as 'birthright;' being from the hand of nature, in which an individual or individuals exercise it;[2]  in other words, a sovereign. Political law is shaped by man, or known as "man-made," simply for control purposes. Finally, a State itself is simply an accumulation of sovereign People.[3]  With that said, we will examine the difference between a Republic and a Democracy. Yes, to be sure, a Republic and a Democracy are one and the same, except one key distinction.

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First, I will begin with a Democracy. A Democracy can be best described as a government of the masses, or better known as the majority. It is a form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the majority, directly or indirectly, as distinguished from a monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy. The sovereign power is exercised by the majority, as was the practice in some of the States of ancient Greece.[4]

Authority is derived through mass meeting or any other form of "direct" expression, usually election, which results in "mobocracy" or "lynch mob." Attitude toward property is collectivistic, opposing property rights. Mindset toward law and order is that the will of the majority shall police, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by zeal, intolerance, and inclination, without restraint or regard to consequences. Democracies, more often than not, result in demagoguism, licenses, disturbances, restlessness, and/or anarchy. The sovereignty is not divided into smaller units such as individuals. To solve a problem, only the majority is authorized to act. In addition, individuals have duties and obligations to the majority. The government's only obligations to the individuals are those legislatively pre-defined for it by the majority.

A Democracy is collectivist in nature, which holds that a man and a woman have no unalienable rights, that his or her work and his or her individuality belong to the majority, and that the majority can do with him or her as it pleases, in any approach the majority pleases.[5] Whatever the majority decides, it is mandated to be followed by all, whether the minority approves or disapproves. The minority in a Democracy has no right to be heard, or declare in any matter due to the supreme ruling of the majority.

In a Democracy, fifty-one percent beats forty-nine percent. In other words, the minority has no rights. The minority only has privileges granted by the dictatorship of the majority. It is essential to know the difference between a "privilege" and a "right." A privilege is a grant that can be taken, or given (usually through license) by a higher source of authority.  A right is an autonomous action, and can be exercised without any one's acquiescence.  In any case, rights and privileges are not concrete items; they are intangible. Rights and privileges are theoretical ideas created by the imagination of man. Rights and privileges change throughout time and evolution of thinking, and they vary extensively from culture-to-culture. On the surface, a Democracy sounds great, but under the surface, there is no liberty and no justice for all. The minority must follow the majority's mandated commandments.

For example, let us imagine one introduces a proposal that electric powered automobiles will become the regular for traveling. The cry for the switch is "environmentally friendly," "low cost," "efficiency," and other hymns. The majority backs the individual proposing this idea. However, there is resistance to this proposal, the minority rebuttals the plan, but it falls on deaf ears. Election occurs, fifty-one percent votes in favor of electric powered automobiles whereas forty-nine percent voted to the contrary.

The new rule in this Democracy is electric powered automobiles must be used for traveling, and if action is not taken, there will be heavy fines, or possible confinement for not following the rule. This new rule is mandated for all to follow, there is no liberty of choice. The minority, beaten by the majority, must now follow the mandated rule set forth by the majority, regardless of disapproval, and subject to the group-think of the majority. Moreover, if the minority should dissent, his or her consequence is heavy fines, or incarceration. Is that liberty?

Second, a Republic is a form of government in which the powers of sovereignty are inherent in the people, and are exercised by the people, either directly, or through representatives elected by the people, to whom those powers are specially delegated. Parenthetically, the word 'people' is either plural or singular. The word 'people' is not the plural of 'person,' for the plural of 'person' is 'persons.' The word 'people' is not the plural of 'individual,' for the plural of 'individual' is 'individuals.'

A Republic is individualistic in nature, which holds that a man and a woman have unalienable rights, which cannot be taken away from him or her by any other individual or by any group, accordingly, each man and woman exist by his or her own right and for his or her own sake, not for the sake of the group.[6]

Contrasting from a Democracy, in a Republic, the majority only has advisory authority, not mandated; the minority is liberated to reject the majority group-think, and its advisory authority. However, there is one exception, if one hundred percent of a panel of adjudicators (i.e. a jury) convict, then the individual loses sovereignty and is subject to group-think as in a Democracy.

In a Republic, the sovereignty resides in the people equally and independently. One may act on his or her own sake or through his or her representative as he or she chooses to solve a problem. Further, the people have no obligation to the government; instead, the government being hired by the people is obliged to its owner, the people. The Constitution for the United States of America guarantees each State, or a State wanting to join the Union, must be a Republican form of government.[7] Any non-republican form of government is repugnant and unconstitutional. There is no excuse to question what a "Republican form of government" means as many individuals do, but this can be explained by means of ignorance of the meaning of Republic, or a tyrant construing the meaning for his or her agenda.

I have heard many professors say, "Our constitution says, 'Republican form of government,' ha, what does that mean?" Ignorance is slavery. Conceivably these "professors" were not educated properly. It is even more worrisome when I hear professors say, "We are a Democracy" or "We are a Constitutional Democracy." May I ask where these individuals received their education? Okay, okay, we know where. In any case, whether they know what form of government we are or are not, it is no excuse to spew such ignorance on the subject of the Constitution for the United States of America.

The Constitution for the United States of America provides for the election of 1) an executive, 2) legislatures, who working together in a representative capacity, 3) a judiciary to pass upon the justice and legality of their government acts and 4) to recognize the sovereign, free, and independent People, which have natural, inherent, and unalienable rights. Take away one or more of those four elements, and we will drift into tyranny. Add one or more to those four elements, and we will drift into a Democracy.[8]

The previous example, this time in a Republican manner. Let us imagine one introduces a proposal that electric powered automobiles will become the regular for traveling. The cry for the switch is "environmentally friendly," "low cost," "efficiency," and other hymns. The majority backs the individual proposing this idea. However, there is resistance to this proposal, the minority rebuttals the plan, but it falls on deaf ears. Election occurs, fifty-one percent votes in favor of electric powered automobiles whereas forty-nine percent voted to the contrary.

The new rule in this Republic is electric powered automobiles is the new method of traveling; however, it is optional for all to follow; there is liberty of choice. The minority, beaten by the majority, does not have to follow the rule set forth by the majority because the minority, akin to the majority, is equally sovereign and independent. Rules established by the majority in a Republic are nothing more than advisory, not mandated. One may choose to follow the rule or disobey the rule at his or her wish without worrying on the subject of consequences. That is liberty.

The distinction between our Republic and a Democracy is not an idle one. It has great legal significance. As already mentioned, the Constitution guarantees to every State a Republican form of government. No State may join the United States unless it is a Republic. Individual rights are the priority. The People have natural rights instead of civil rights (aka government privileges). The People are protected by the Bill of Rights from the majority group-think -- collectivism. One vote in a jury can stop all of the majority from depriving any one of the People of his or her individual rights. This would not be so if the United States were a Democracy.

As stated, in a Democracy there is no such thing as a significant minority, there are no minority rights except civil rights (privileges) granted by a condescending majority. Only five of the first ten amendments of the Constitution for the United States of America apply to the Citizens; all rights are available to the People whereas only some rights are granted as "privileges and immunities" to Citizens.[9] Simply stated, a Democracy is a dictatorship of the majority. Socrates was executed by a Democracy, though he injured no one, the majority found him intolerable, thus he was condemned to death.

Here some legal definitions...

"Government. The government is but an agency of the state, distinguished as it must be in accurate thought from its scheme and machinery of government. [...] In a colloquial sense, the United States or its representatives, considered as the prosecutor in a criminal action; as in the phrase, the government objects to the witness."[10]

"Government: Republican government. One in which the powers of sovereignty are vested in the People and are exercised by the People, either directly, or through representatives chosen by the People, to whom those powers are specially delegated."[11]

"Democracy. That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation, as distinguished from a monarchy, aristocracy, or oligarchy."[12]

Notice that in a Democracy, the sovereignty is in the whole body of the free citizens. The sovereignty is not divided to smaller units such as individual citizens. To solve a problem, only the whole body politic is authorized to act. Also, being citizens, individuals have duties and obligations to the government. The government's only obligations to the citizens are those legislatively pre-defined for it by the whole body politic.

In a Republic, the sovereignty resides in the people individually. In a Republic, one may act on his or her own or through his or her representatives as he or she chooses to solve a problem. Further, the people have no obligation to the government, instead, the government being hired by the people, is obliged to its owner, the people.

The People did not "ordain and establish this Constitution" for themselves, but "for the United States of America." In delegating powers to the government the People gave up none of their own sovereignty. This concept is why the United States has been called the "Greatest experiment in self-government." The People govern themselves, while their subjects (i.e. government) perform tasks listed in the Preamble for the benefit of the People. The experiment is to answer the question, "Can self-governing People coexist and prevail over government that has no authority over the People?" Self-government is exactly that, self-government; one is his or her OWN government, meaning he or she is his or her own executive, legislative, and judicial. This concept never existed in mankind's history until the People ordained and established this country.

The Citizens are subject to the laws of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. Keep in mind, citizenship did not exist, at least permanently, until July 28, 1868.[13] There was a great political division between two major philosophers, Hobbes and Locke. Hobbes was on the side of government. He believed that sovereignty was vested in the State. Locke was on the side of the People. He believed that the fountain of sovereignty was the People of the State. Statists prefer Hobbes. Populists prefer Locke and so did the People.

While a Republic and a Democracy are similar in many aspects, there is one major difference and that is in a Republic, sovereignty is inherent in each individual. In a Democracy, sovereignty is inherent in the majority. The United States is a Republic, a Constitutional Republic for that matter, not a Democracy. John Adams accurately stated, "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a Democracy yet that did not commit suicide."[14]  Think of it as this way: a Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner...who will decide? Same scenario but in a Republic, two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner, but a armed sheep contesting the vote.

As an individualist, I believe the "common good" that everyone desires can be achieved by means of voluntary and mutual collaboration. It becomes collectivism when coercion, intimidation, violence, irrationally, et cetera, enter the equation. Moreover, if one is injured by force, whether it be indirect or direct, actual or implied, there ought to be proper remedy and equality at law. The United States is the world's "Greatest Experiment," never before endeavored in human record, a land of equally sovereign and independent Kings and Queens. Self-governing according to the common law and to be judged by his or her own peers in a grand jury. Many believe this ideal of liberty, sovereignty, and self-government cannot be practicable. To the contrary, the People proved such a system could (and can) work; they handled their own matters using this system before government usurpation into our lives and businesses.

However, those days of self-governance seem to be gone now. The system did not fail, undeniably, it has its faults, but it is easy to blame the system. Ultimately, the People failed. The People failed to remain vigilant towards their subject (i.e. government), common ignorance, and lack of concern killed the ideals of our Founding Fathers and our Republic. After the Constitution Convention, Mrs. Powel, a woman of Philadelphia, asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well Doctor, what have we got - a republic or a monarchy?" "A republic, if you can keep it," replied Franklin.[15]

"If you can keep it." Strong statement by Franklin. We the People did not keep it due to unawareness, distractions, and slothfulness. As Jefferson noted, ignorance and liberty cannot coexist. Therefore, if there is any blame for growing government, a growing Police State, and never ending misery it appears, the responsibility is on the People. It is time for We the People to gain back what is rightfully ours. We the People need to start asserting our sovereignty and common law. We the People can revitalize our self-governance. Our subject knows who is in charge, but they have deceived us for many decades, beginning with the War Between the States. This deception must come to end and legitimacy ought to return. Life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness, and individual rights has been the dictum of our Republic, and let us keep it that way.

Will you help by raising public awareness of the difference between the Republic and a Democracy? It is my hope that the United States will always remain a Republic, because I value individual rights and personal liberty. In the words of Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"



[1] "GOVERNMENT, natural and political law. The manner in which sovereignty is exercised in each state," Bouvier, John. A Law Dictionary Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America and of the Several States of the American Union. Sixth Edition, Revised, Improved, and Greatly Enlarged. Philadelphia: Childs and Peterson, 1856.

[2] "Every man, and every body of men on earth, possesses the right of self-government. They receive it with their being from the hand of nature. Individuals exercise it by their single will; collections of men by that of their majority; for the law of the majority is the natural law of every society of men," - Thomas Jefferson: Opinion on Residence Bill, 1790. ME 3:60.

[3] "STATE. A People permanently occupying a fixed territory bound together by common-law habits and custom into one body politic exercising, through the medium of an organized government, independent sovereignty and control over all persons and things within its boundaries, capable of making war and peace and of entering into international relations with other communities of the globe. United States v. Kusche, D.C.Cal., 56 F.Supp. 201, 207, 208. The organization of social life which exercises sovereign power in behalf of the People. Delany v. Moraitis, C.C.A.Md., 136 F.2d 129, 130.," Black’s Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition.

[4] "DEMOCRACY, government. That form of government in which the sovereign power is exercised by the people in a body, as was the practice in some of the states of Ancient Greece; the term representative democracy has been given to a republican government like that of the United States," Bouvier, John. A Law Dictionary Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America and of the Several States of the American Union. Sixith Edition, Revised, Improved, and Greatly Enlarged. Philadelphia: Childs and Peterson, 1856.

[5] Rand, Ayn. "Textbook of Americanism." The Vigil. 1946.

[6] See Supra

[7] "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion," Article IV, Section 4, Clause 1, Constitution for the United States of America for the United States of America, 1787.

[8] Training Manual No. 2000-25, War Department, Washington, D.C., November 30, 1928.

[9] "Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

[...]

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article," Fourteenth Amendment, Constitution for the United States of America, 1868.

[10] Black's Law Dictionary, Fifth Edition.

[11] See Supra.

[12] See 10.

[13] See 9

[14] John Adams, letter to John Taylor (1814-04-15).

[15] Farrand's Records, Volume 3, Page 85 of 685.

Amen, amen, amen.

Good grief.  Democracy, Republic, tomato, tomahto..... get to the part where you describe all the free stuff I'm supposed to get.