Republic vs. Democracy - What Is The Real Form of the U.S. Government

Summary

The script discusses the distinction between democracy and republic, emphasizing the U.S. Founders' intent to establish a republic governed by law rather than majority rule. It clarifies misconceptions about the political spectrum and explains the pitfalls of anarchy and oligarchy. The script highlights the importance of constitutional moderates in preserving freedom and the dangers of unchecked democracy, which can devolve into oligarchy, as history has shown with the Roman Republic's decline.

Takeaways

• 🗽 The script emphasizes the distinction between a democracy and a republic, highlighting that the U.S. was founded as a republic, not a democracy.
• 🌐 It clarifies that the political spectrum is misunderstood, suggesting that it should be viewed as a scale from no government power (far right) to total government power (far left).
• 🏛 The script argues that the U.S. Constitution represents a 'constitutional moderate' government, limited to its proper role of protecting the rights of the people.
• 👥 It points out that forms of government like monarchy or dictatorship are not truly ruled by one person but by a group, making them a type of oligarchy.
• 🔒 The concept of anarchy is discussed as unstable and ultimately leading to the rise of a new form of government, often an oligarchy, rather than being a permanent state.
• 👮‍♂️ The necessity of some form of government for maintaining order and freedom in society is asserted, with the founding fathers agreeing on this point.
• 🏛️ The script explains that a republic is defined by law, not the will of the majority, and is where the government's power is limited to protect individual rights.
• 🤔 It questions the stability of democracy, suggesting that it can lead to the 'tyranny of the majority' and is not restrained, potentially infringing on individual rights.
• 📜 The founding fathers' intention to avoid a democracy and establish a republic is underscored, with references to their writings and the absence of the word 'democracy' in key U.S. documents.
• 🏛️ The script uses the example of a lynch mob to illustrate the difference between the mob rule of a democracy and the rule of law in a republic.
• 🌍 It concludes by stating that the U.S. has a choice to maintain its republic or risk descending into an oligarchy, reflecting on historical examples of the downfall of democracies.

Q & A

What was Benjamin Franklin's immediate response when asked about the form of government the Constitutional Convention had given the United States?

Benjamin Franklin responded with 'A republic, ma'am, if you can keep it.'

Why is the distinction between a democracy and a republic important for understanding the American system?

The distinction is important because a democracy is based on majority rule, which can lead to the tyranny of the majority, whereas a republic is governed by law, protecting individual rights and limiting government power.

What is the confusion about the political spectrum that the script addresses?

The script addresses the confusion that places groups like Communists on the far left and fascists or dictators on the far right, with moderates in the middle. It clarifies that a more accurate spectrum would show government power ranging from zero on the far right to 100% on the far left.

What type of government is considered to be at the extreme right and far left of the political spectrum according to the script?

At the extreme right, there is no government (anarchy), and at the far left, there is total government, such as communism, socialism, Nazism, and fascism.

What is the role of a constitution in the context of the political spectrum discussed in the script?

A constitution, like the one of the United States, represents a government limited to its proper role of protecting the rights of the people, placing it in the middle of the political spectrum where constitutional moderates advocate for limited government.

What are the basic forms of government mentioned in the script?

The basic forms of government mentioned are monarchy or dictatorship, oligarchy, democracy, republic, and anarchy.

Why does the script argue that monarchy or dictatorship is not truly ruled by one person?

The script argues that behind every monarchy or dictatorship, there is always a group that supports the leader, such as a council of nobles or bureaucrats, indicating that it is actually ruled by a group, not an individual.

What is the script's argument against anarchy as a form of government?

The script argues that anarchy, or the absence of government, leads to a lack of law and order, which in turn restricts freedom and requires individuals to constantly guard their life, liberty, and property.

What is the difference between democracy and republic as explained in the script?

Democracy is the rule of the majority, which can be flawed because it is not restrained and can lead to the oppression of minorities. A republic, on the other hand, is governed by law, ensuring that the rights of individuals are protected and that the government is limited.

Why did the founding fathers of the United States avoid creating a democracy as described in the script?

The founding fathers avoided creating a democracy because they recognized its potential for mob rule, anarchy, and eventual tyranny under an oligarchy. They aimed to create a republic with limited government to protect individual rights and freedoms.

What historical example does the script provide to illustrate the difference between a democracy and a republic?

The script uses the example of a lynch mob in the old west. In a democracy, the mob might vote to hang a gunman without a trial, whereas in a republic, the law would require a fair trial and the unanimous decision of a jury to execute justice.

What did the founding fathers of the United States believe about the word 'democracy' in relation to their new government?

The founding fathers believed that 'democracy' was not a suitable term for their new government, as they intended to create a republic where the government was limited by law, not by the whims of the majority.

What was the script's explanation of the Roman Republic's transition to an oligarchy?

The script explains that the Roman Republic transitioned to an oligarchy due to the people forgetting the essence of freedom, which is the proper limitation of government power. As government power grew, individual freedoms receded, leading to the eventual collapse of the republic and the rise of the Caesars.

Outlines

00:00

🗽 The Essence of American Republic vs. Democracy

This paragraph discusses the misunderstanding between democracy and republic in the context of the American political system. It clarifies that the United States is founded as a republic, not a democracy, with a government limited by law. The script also addresses the misconception about the political spectrum, explaining that it should be viewed as a scale from no government (anarchy) to total government (communism, socialism, etc.), rather than the traditional left-right spectrum. It emphasizes the importance of constitutional moderates and the rule of law to protect individual rights, contrasting it with the potential tyranny of majority rule in a democracy.

05:01

🏛 The True Meaning of Democracy and Republic

The second paragraph delves into the definitions of democracy and republic, highlighting the pitfalls of majority rule in a democracy and the importance of law in a republic. It uses the example of a lynch mob to illustrate the difference between the two systems, where a republic's adherence to law and fair trial rights prevents unjust actions that a democracy might allow. The paragraph also discusses the historical perspective of the founding fathers, who intentionally avoided creating a democracy and instead established a republic to safeguard personal security and property rights. It cites the Federalist Papers and other historical documents to underscore the founders' disdain for democracy and their preference for a government ruled by law.

10:02

🎶 The Downfall of Democracy and the Rise of Oligarchy

The final paragraph of the script, set to music, summarizes the historical progression from republic to democracy and ultimately to oligarchy, as seen in the fall of Rome. It warns that democracy is not a stable form of government and can lead to the rise of an elite ruling class. The script emphasizes the importance of maintaining the American republic to prevent the tyranny of the few, as envisioned by Benjamin Franklin. It concludes with a playful interaction, suggesting the gravity of the topic while maintaining an engaging tone.

Keywords

💡Republic

A republic is a form of government in which the country is considered a 'public matter' and is governed by elected representatives of the people, under a constitution that limits the government's power. In the video, it is emphasized that the United States was founded as a republic, not a democracy, to ensure that the government's power is constrained by law, protecting individual rights and freedoms.

💡Democracy

Democracy, derived from Greek, means 'rule by the people' and typically refers to a system where the majority has the power to make decisions. The video script points out the potential flaws of democracy, such as the majority's unchecked power that could infringe upon the rights of individuals or minorities, contrasting it with the republic form of government.

💡Oligarchy

An oligarchy is a form of government where power is held by a small group of people. The script discusses how oligarchy is a common form of government throughout history and often disguises itself under other forms of government, such as monarchy or dictatorship, where power is effectively held by a few behind the scenes.

💡Constitutional Moderates

The term 'Constitutional Moderates' refers to those who advocate for a government limited by a constitution, protecting the rights of the people. In the script, this concept is used to describe the intended form of government under the U.S. Constitution, which aims to strike a balance between too much and too little government power.

💡Political Spectrum

The political spectrum is a concept used to represent the range of differing attitudes a government or person might have towards the role of government and its citizens. The video script challenges common perceptions of the political spectrum, arguing that it should be understood as a scale of government power, from zero (anarchy) to 100% (total government control).

💡Anarchy

Anarchy, meaning 'without a ruler,' is a condition where there is an absence of government. The video explains that while some advocate for anarchy as a form of government, it is not stable and often leads to chaos, which power-hungry individuals exploit to establish their own rule, effectively creating an oligarchy.

💡Majority Rule

Majority rule is a principle in democratic systems where decisions are made based on what the majority of the people want. The script warns of the dangers of majority rule when it is not constrained by law, as it can lead to the oppression of minorities or the violation of individual rights.

💡Rule of Law

The rule of law is the principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being ruled by the whims of individuals or the majority. The video emphasizes the importance of the rule of law in a republic, where it serves to limit government power and protect individual liberties.

💡Lynch Mob

A lynch mob is a group that takes the law into its own hands, often to administer immediate and extrajudicial punishment. In the script, the lynch mob is used as an example to illustrate the difference between democracy and a republic, where in a republic, the rule of law prevents such mobs from acting without due process.

💡Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers are a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym 'Publius' to promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The video script cites James Madison's writings in the Federalist Papers to underscore the founders' intent to create a republic, not a democracy, and their concerns about the potential excesses of democracy.

💡Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was a period in the history of Rome where the government was not ruled by a king but by elected officials and a constitution that limited their power. The script uses the Roman Republic as an example of a successful republic that became wealthy and powerful due to its limited government and rule of law, until it transitioned into an empire marked by an oligarchy.

Highlights

Benjamin Franklin's famous response about giving America a republic, not a democracy.

The common misconception that the U.S. is a democracy rather than a republic.

The clarification of the political spectrum, distinguishing between government power and political ideologies.

The definition of a republic as a government limited by law, in contrast to a democracy ruled by majority.

The historical prevalence of oligarchy as the most common form of government throughout history.

The critique of anarchy as a form of government, highlighting its instability and potential for chaos.

The explanation of how the proper amount of government leads to greater freedom for citizens.

The analysis of the flaws in democracy, where majority rule can infringe upon individual rights.

The founding fathers' intention to establish a republic, not a democracy, in the U.S. Constitution.

The importance of law in a republic to protect individual rights and limit government power.

The comparison between a lynch mob in a democracy and the rule of law in a republic.

The absence of the word 'democracy' in the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison's view on the dangers of democracy and the necessity of a republic for personal security and property rights.

The historical examples of Greek city-states and the Roman Republic to illustrate the evolution of government forms.

The Roman Republic's transition from a republic to a democracy and eventual oligarchy under Caesars.

The final message that Americans must choose to maintain their republic or risk becoming an oligarchy.

The humorous musical interlude highlighting the importance of the choice between a republic and an oligarchy.

Transcripts

when Benjamin Franklin exited the

Constitutional Convention he was asked

by a woman sir what have you given us

his immediate response was a republic

ma'am if you can keep it yet most

Americans today have been persuaded that

our nation's governmental system is a

democracy and not a republic the

difference between these two is

essential in understanding americanism

and the American system

before we discuss political systems

however it's helpful to address the

confusion that has been spread about the

political Spectrum many have been led to

believe that the political Spectrum

places groups such as Communists on the

far left fascists or dictators on the

far right and political moderates or

centrists in the

middle however a more accurate political

Spectrum will show government having

zero power on the far right to having

100% power on the far left at the

extreme right there is no government the

extreme left features total government

under such labels as communism socialism

Nazism fascism princes potentates

dictators Kings any form of total

government those who claim that Nazis

and fascists are right-wing never Define

their terms this amounts to spreading

confusion toward the middle of the

political Spectrum can be found the type

of government limited to its proper role

of protecting the rights of the people

that's where the Constitution of the

United States is those who Advocate such

a form of government are really

constitutional moderates so let's

analyze the basic forms of government

they are monarchy or dictatorship ruled

by one oligarchy ruled by a few

democracy ruled by a majority Republic

ruled by law and Anarchy which is ruled

by no one in discussing these five we'll

see that they can be narrowed down to

even

fewer looking first at monarchy or

dictatorship this form of government

doesn't really exist in the practical

sense it's always a group that puts one

of its members up front a king has his

Council of nobles or Earls and every

dictator has his bureaucrats or

commissars the Men Behind the Scenes

this isn't ruled by one even though one

person may be the visible leader it's

ruled by a group so let's eliminate

monarchy dictatorship because it never

truly

exists oligarchy which is ruled by group

is the most common form of government in

all history and it is the most common

form of government today most of the

nations of the world are ruled by a

powerful few and therefore oligarchy

remains at the other end we find anarchy

which means without government some

people have looked over history and

found that many of its worst crimes were

committed by governments so they decided

that having no government might be a

good idea but this is a mistake because

as the the ancient Greeks stated without

law there can be no

Freedom our founding fathers agreed and

held that some amount of government is a

necessary force in any civilized orderly

Society in a state of Anarchy however

everyone has to guard life liberty and

property and the lives of family members

everyone must be armed and movement is

severely restricted because one's

property has to be protected at all

times

civilized people have always hired

someone to do the guarding a sheriff a

police force or some branch of

government once law enforcement was in

place the people were Freer they could

leave their property work in the fields

and so on in short the proper amount of

government makes everyone

Freer there are some who Advocate

Anarchy however not because they want no

government but because they don't like

what they have they use Anarchy as a

tool for revolutionary change the

condition of Anarchy is very much like a

vacuum where something rushes in to fill

it these calculating anarchists work to

break down the existing government with

rioting killing looting and terrorism

tragically the people living in such

chaos often go to those best able to put

an end to it and beg them to take over

and restore order and who was best able

to put an end to the chaos the very

people who started it the anarchists who

created the problem then create a

government run by them an oligarchy

where they have total power this is

exactly what happened in Russia that led

to Lenin taking total power and in

Germany where Hitler's Brown Shirts

created the chaos that brought him to

power but Anarchy isn't a stable form of

government it's a quick transition from

something that exists to something

desired by the power hungry it's a

temporary condition and because it isn't

permanent we eliminate it as

well the word democracy comes from two

Greek words deos meaning people and

catean meaning to rule democracy

therefore means the rule of the people

majority rule this of course sounds good

but suppose the majority decides to take

away one's home or business or children

obviously there has to be a limit the

flaw in democracy is that the majority

isn't

restrained if more than half the people

can be persuaded to want something in a

democracy they

rule what about Republic

well that comes from the Latin res

meaning thing and Pua meaning public it

means the public thing the

law a true Republic is one where the

government is limited by law leaving the

people

alone America's Founders had a clean

slate to write on they could have set up

an oligarchy in fact there were some who

wanted George Washington to be their

King but the founding fathers knew

history and they chose to give us the

rule of law law in a republic not the

rule of a majority in a democracy why

let's demonstrate the difference in the

setting of the old

west consider a Lynch Mob In a Democracy

35 horseback Riders Chase one loone

gunman they catch him and they vote 35

to1 to hang him democracy has triumphed

and there's one less gunman to contend

with now consider the same scenario in a

republic the 35 horseback Riders Catch

the gunman and vote 35 to1 to hang him

but the sheriff arrives and he says you

can't kill him he's got his right to a

fair trial so they take the gunman back

to town a jury of his peers is selected

and they hear the evidence and the

defense and they decide if he shall hang

does the jury even decide by majority

rule no it has to be unanimous or he

goes free the rights of the government

aren't subject to majority rule but to

the law this is the essence of a

Republic many Americans would be

surprised to learn that the word

democracy does not appear in the

Declaration of Independence or the US

Constitution nor does it appear in any

of the Constitutions of the 50 states

the founders did everything they could

to keep us from having a

democracy James Madison rightly known as

the father of the Constitution wrote in

essay number 10 of The Federalist

Papers democracies have ever been

spectacles of turbulence and contention

have ever been found incompatible with

personal security or the rights of

property and have in general been Ur in

their lives as they have been violent in

their

deaths Alexander Hamilton agreed and he

stated we are a Republican government

real Liberty is never found in despotism

or in the extremes of

democracy Samuel Adams Aigner of the

Declaration of Independence stated

democracy never lasts long it soon

wastes exhausts and murders

itself the founders had good reason to

look upon democracy with contempt

because they knew that the democracies

in the early Greek city States produced

some of the wildest excesses of

government imaginable in every case they

ended up with mob rule then Anarchy and

finally tyranny under an

oligarchy during that period in Greece

there was a man named Solen who urged

creation of a fixed body of law not

subject to majority whims but where the

Greeks never adopted Sand's wise Council

the Romans did based on what they knew

of Sand's laws they created the 12

tables of the Roman law and in effect

built a republic that limited government

power and left the people

alone since government was limited the

people were free to produce with the

understanding that they could keep the

fruits of their labor in time Rome

became wealthy and the Envy of the

world in the midst of Plenty however the

Roman people forgot what Freedom

entailed they forgot that the essence of

freedom is the proper limitation of

government When government power grows

people Freedom

recedes once the Romans dropped their

guard power seeking politicians began to

exceed the powers granted them in the

Roman

Constitution some learned that they

could elect politicians who would use

government power to take property from

some and give it to others agriculture

subsidies were introd educed followed by

housing and Welfare programs inevitably

taxes Rose and controls over the private

sector were imposed soon a number of

Rome's producers could no longer make

ends meet and they went on the

Dole productivity declined shortages

developed and mobs began roaming the

streets demanding bread and circuses

from the government many were induced to

trade freedom for

security eventually the whole system

Came Crashing Down they went from a

republic to a democracy and ended up

with an oligarchy under a progression of

the

[Music]

Caesars thus democracy itself is not a

stable form of government instead it is

the gradual transition from limited

government to the unlimited rule of an

oligarchy knowing this We As Americans

are ultimately left with only two

choices we can keep our Republic as

Franklin put it or we will inevitably

end up with an oligarchy a a tyranny of

the

elite

hey is this my

turn you want me to sing

now

okay wow

[Music]