America – Thank God that We are NOT a Democracy

 Most Americans think of our nation as a Democracy. Not True. We are a “Republic”. Be very grateful that our very wise Founding Fathers feared a true Democracy where a mere 51% of the population could restrict the freedoms of the other 49%. For example, in a true Democracy, a simple majority of 51% could declare a national religion that everyone must belong to under penalty of death. 51% could eliminate the right of women to vote or even go to school. 51% could enforce stringent dress codes for everyone. 51% could take away freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

In America's Republic, we have very important rights guaranteed in our Constitution that a simple majority cannot take away. We can change, delete, or add to our Constitution, but NOT with a simple majority. Just to propose a Constitutional Amendment requires either two thirds of Congress or two thirds of States to propose it. Next, to become law, three fourths of State Legislatures must ratify it. A very daunting process that makes it very difficult to pass “bad” Constitutional Amendments, thus preserving our Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Important – not an impossible process, as 27 Amendments to the Constitution have been passed such as Amendments giving Blacks and later women the right to vote.

While most nations, including strict Democratic nations, at the Federal level have a single legislative body to pass laws, America is extremely fortunate and indebted to its Founding Fathers to have two legislative bodies – the House of Representatives where the most populous States are represented in relation to their population versus small States, and the Senate, where every state has an equal vote (two Senators each). Also in the Senate, filibusters can result in the need to have 60% of the Senate agree to pass legislation or approve Federal nominees. Even then, the President can “veto” the legislation, effectively stopping it from becoming law unless two thirds of Congress overrides the Presidential veto. The Founding Fathers wanted the political parties to work together and if necessary to compromise in order to pass legislation in a manner that prevents bad legislation from being passed into law. Absolute Genius!!

In the same manner, our wise Founding Fathers invented the Electoral College to elect Presidents so that an overwhelming majority from large population States could not impose their will on the smaller States. The intent was for any President to be elected, he/she would have the need to campaign and listen to the voices of all States. Otherwise, Presidential candidates might totally ignore smaller states and only cater to and campaign in large states. Again, Absolute Genius!! We just saw how well that worked in the 2016 Presidential election. A huge majority in California for the Democratic candidate gave that candidate a multi-million vote national majority. Without California, smaller State majorities gave the Republican candidate more than a million vote majority of the other 49 States and the Electoral College to win. Worked as planned!!