We The People

I was watching a show on the history of Democracy and was floored to discover that we don’t have one. So, apparently our policy is to make sure everyone else in the world has democracy, even though we don’t actually trust it to work for us. After all this hoopla about spreading Democracy with a capital D at the end of a gun barrel (you will be free no matter how many of you have to die to make it so), you’d think someone would have noticed that we’re not practicing what we’re preaching.

So, it turns out that we live in a Republic. How could I have missed it? It’s even in the national pledge of allegiance: “…The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands…” Sure does explain a lot though, doesn’t it? Like how our fearless leaders in Washington can do so much that seems to go against Democratic Principles, the whole time saying they’re trying to preserve the country. Once you drop the idea that we’re a democracy, the whole thing makes a lot more sense.

Some folks have been saying that we’re currently under an Autocracy, since only one party seems to have any say in matters – you know, like in the old USSR, Iran, Iraq, etc. I’m not sure I agree with that, although they do make a good point. Of course, we are limited in our choices, since cheats from one party look an awful lot like the crooks in the other. But I think there’s still a chance, however slim, for the populace to elect someone different. Every once in a while, someone comes along that captures the public’s imagination, and they get elected despite all obstacles. Then it’s up to us to give them a chance to do what we sent them to Washington to do.

Who knows, maybe it’s time We trusted The People enough to try a little democracy ourselves. One person, one vote: we could start by electing the President directly. It would be easy to do – we could use internet voting (public libraries can stand in for anyone who doesn’t have their own computer). We have the ability, we have the tools, but the question is, do we have the guts? I know I'm only a little bear, but surely things can be better.