And To The Republic, Mr. Franklin.

Somewhere along the lines, we the people got things confused. We have deviated from the nine principles and twelve values that were adopted in order to form a more perfect union. Our forefathers did not set forth to create a democracy. Instead, they chose a republic. With our convenient amnesia, we have ultimately changed the charted course for our nation. Welcome to democracy.

When Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government had been set into place for the United States, he replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." The key here, is the "if you can keep it" part. 200 years later, we are struggling to uphold these principles. By abandoning the principles of a republic, we are theoretically throwing the baby out with the bath water. We are rejecting the founding principles of our nation. They did not choose to set up a democracy. Democracies can be dangerous. Democracies are based upon a majority rule philosophy. A republic is founded on the rule of law. A republic is grounded in truth and personal responsibility.

The ancient Greeks knew the dangers of adopting a majority rule governance. Sometimes, the majority can be dead wrong. The views of the people can become skewed. They instead listen to promises of government fulfillment and abandon personal responsibility and truth. The Athenians learned the hard way that without law, there can be no freedom. The Roman's also stumbled with democracy. And, in the end, their brilliant empire crumbled... they ended up with an oligarchy beginning with the Caesars. This history lesson is vital to understand the future of America. When we abandon our principles of personal responsibility and natural law, we choose what becomes easy. We the people stop looking out for the nation as a whole. We become selfish. What can the government do for me? And, ultimately, we discover that government is not an answer to our prayers... power is abused. Oligarchies are formed. Is this what we desire? To return to the very form of government we fought so fiercely to abolish?

We seem to have lost the roadmap (constitution) left for us by our forefathers. Instead, we are "winging it". We are following what is a majority rules philosophy. We have abandoned the checks and balances of a republic. With our desertion of law, we have lost initiative. We are missing the point of a republic. We are creating a government so big it cannot succeed. After all, nothing is too big to fail. We bail out the auto industries; then we place stringent conditions upon their business models. We save the financial industries; then we cap their salaries and refuse to accept their repayment. Why? To enlist control by the government. These actions surely are not of the people. Our government is no longer acting like a republic. It resembles a democracy. The flaws of a democracy are many, but most importantly, the majority is not restrained in their actions. Congress and The Executive office are held by a single party. Majority rules. They are not restrained. They have free reign to apply their convictions upon those who have elected them to office.

Laws are not set up to inhibit freedoms, they are set into place to ensure them. It is our natural born right as US citizens to succeed or fail. We are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are not entitled to free groceries, government controls, and golden parachutes. The role of national treasurer should not be held by a majority rule. Because, when things come down to money, everyone's opinions become quickly misguided and selfish.

I am still working this one out in my little pea brained head. I have to let it marinate. What I do know, is that we have lost our way. We need to dust off the old constitution. We need to return to the principles and values of those who had the foresight to see that the road less travelled is in fact the correct road. Yes, the road can be long and hard... but the reward is worth the journey. We cannot abandon our course. We have to follow it. If we fail at this, we have failed our forefathers.

PS... I hate this post. I have not wrapped myself around my thoughts thoroughly... This is definitely subpar KKRT.