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I will get to definitions in a minute, but to set the tone for what follows, readers should consider that the one thing the American political class and their cohorts in the collective mass Communications ecosystems want you to concern yourself with is the notion that our upcoming election in 2024 is singly about saving or losing our so-called democracy. This statement is simply not true, and the more you hear it, the more suspicious you should be about the real reasons that lie beneath why they keep saying it.
Working from right to left in the title of this essay, consider that a dog whistle is said to be “A high-pitched whistle used to train dogs” and consider that, in our current cultural and sociopolitical environment, this expression is routinely used to describe anything that is said during the exercise of our Collective right to free speech wherever it does not fit the narrative pushed by those in power. And, even though it’s not mentioned in the title, the word most frequently used to describe how the national conversation is manipulated (always to the benefit of those in power) is something called gaslighting. Should anyone decide to click through to this link for a definition of that word, if you find yourself astonished by what you learn, consider yourself in Phase One of self-liberation.
Next, let us consider today’s political class, which is completely at odds with the original intent of our founding fathers and the system of governance they designed for us and committed to once enough States had agreed in 1788. Today’s America is not run alone by elected officials we voted for and who promised us (by raising their right hand and swearing an oath) that they would attend to our concerns and bring our voices with them to the nation’s capital. Instead, what we have today is a tidal wave of lobbyists, special interest groups, NGOs, political action committees, and countless other collections of so-called influencers and unelected bureaucrats that have effectively wedged themselves between we American citizens and the people we citizens hired to do our bidding.
As for the keyword in the title here, let’s sit for a while and think about this “Democracy” thing we are being bludgeoned with and just how much of what we are being told is true and accurate or whether or not there might be some wool being pulled over our eyes.
Depending on who you asked, you might be surprised at how many different answers you would get to the question of what America’s system of Governance is called. Some believe that America is a democracy, and others believe it is a Republic. The funny thing, though, is that America is neither of these. Perhaps most entertaining of all, especially when you consider that the word democracy is nowhere to be found in our Constitution, that “thing” (democracy) that both halves of today’s polity are rending themselves (ripping their own clothes in anguish) bears no resemblance to the system of governance established when the Constitution was ratified in 1788.
Interestingly, from a sitting member of Congress no less, a great example of the sleight of hand our political class uses against us (apparently because they have little respect for our capacity to understand how things work), I offer something for you to consider that was pulled from Representative James E. Clyburn’s Congressional website, which says this: “The Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic form of government. That is, we have an indivisible union of 50 sovereign States. It is a democracy because people govern themselves.”
I recommend you read that a second time. As I said above, the word democracy is nowhere to be found in the Constitution but equally important is that the word ‘Federal’ is likewise nowhere to be found. There is, however, one mention of the word ‘Republican’, in Article IV, Section IV that is worth sharing here: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”
I cannot recommend strongly enough that readers take the time to read the full text of the Constitution; if you don’t know what rules the political classes are expected to live by, taking them at their word when they run for office, you will never be able to hold them accountable when they break that trust.
The bottom line on all this talk about democracy is fairly well summarized at a website called “We The Veterans,” and readers should consider reviewing the entire front page (even if you don’t have time to click through any of the provided links) but this is the best and most accurate description I have come across that explains what America really is, and how her system(s) of governance actually work: “[T]he United States is best described as a representative, federalist, democratic constitutional republic.”
As I said above, unless you’re perfectly content with how the country is being run, you need to learn how it was designed to function before any of us is going to make any progress on addressing any of the things we think might be broken or in serious need of repair. You can expect that my next entry, leaning heavily on my first book ) written with a lot of help from my friend @vassarbushmills), will consider how this country even came to exist, with a deep dive into the mess we have made of things in 2 1/2 centuries since we declared independence from a Tyrant King and his corrupt Parliament.
Oh, one last thing… American democracy (representative, federalist, democratic constitutional republic) cannot die at the hands of a Ballot Box; the “some several States” and their respective legislatures and state constitutions, guaranteed by the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, will never let that happen- just sayin’.
