Forwarded message:
From: amp@pobox.com Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 10:32:28 -0500 Subject: Re: Removing Tyranny from Democracy (Part II), (fwd)
You miss the point entirely. This is =not= supposed to be a democracy. That is why we have a constitution (theoretically a set of restrictions upon the powers of government), and bill of rights.
This is most certainly a democracy, it's called a representative democracy. That we have a Constitution and a Bill of Rights is a measure of the founding fathers wisdom but by no means are either required to have a democracy, nor do either by definition eliminate a governmental form from being a democracy.
2. In a democracy, you can't have property rights because 51% can capriciously decide to confiscate anyone's property.
That depends on how the founders define the democracy. The definition of a democracy does NOT define the system put in place merely who has a say in how it runs. You're painting with way too broad a brush. Like most things simply being a cat does not equate all cats to be the same. This also applies to democracies, there is plenty of room to manuever when designing it.
Since there are no true democracies extant your point is moot.
There have been, that is why the point is not moot. The point is, we are becoming one, with the advent of instant polling and politicians and citizens who obviously can't read as simple a document as the constitution.
Where? When? No government ever implimented by man has ever been a true anything. Not democracy, communism, etc. They are all hybrids of one sort or another. For there to be a true democracy as you seem to define it we would require every man, woman, and child to carry a vote and be required to vote on each and every issue. No government in history has had this much prosperity or homogoneity in the desires of the people. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | The financial policy of the welfare state requires that there | | be no way for the owners of wealth to protect themselves. | | | | -Alan Greenspan- | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http:// www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|