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| Yes | 47% | 27 votes | Total: 58 votes | |
| No | 53% | 31 votes |
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Add to FavoritesAlthough the United States of America is technically a Republic, or a system where the people elect officials to represent them and then the officials vote on the issues, I do believe that our current system will still be around in 50 years, and I suppose that is the question posed in this article. In order for the U.S. to be a true Democracy, the populace would have to vote on issues rather than representatives of the populace. It's easy to see how that could be quite a logistical nightmare. As a country, we've been through far more trying times and our system of government has remained relatively unchanged. The government has grown exorbitantly and intrudes far deeper into our lives than the forefathers ever intended, but the system they set forth in the constitution to elect officials and their governing methods are virtually the same.
In many respects, the U.S. has actually become more democratic and inclusive. There was a time when only white landowners could vote. Then blacks were given the right to vote and then in 1920 women gained the right to vote. Today nearly every American citizen over the age of 18 can vote. The only people not allowed to vote other than minors, are convicted felons and those who have failed to register. This means a much larger cross-section of the United States is represented in Congress than previously.
The U.S. has survived several wars, primarily the war between the states, that have challenged its political system and still it has survived. An entire portion of the country attempted to secede and when that failed, it was successfully brought back into the fold to prosper. I can't imagine any scenario where the people of this country would permit another system of government to be instituted and I certainly can't imagine any invading force succeeding and implementing some sort of dictatorship.
Our political system was designed to prevent a "tyranny of the majority" where a section of the country could just walk all over another section with less representation. It's worked with great success thus far and I see it continuing to do so for many years to come. The downfall of our country will not be our political system but our lack of fiscal responsibility. The United States will bankrupt itself long before there's any chance of another political system taking over.
Learn more about this author, Terry Lutz.
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No
As of this writing in November 2009, those of us who are citizens of the United States have already seen an erosion of personal liberties. Based on the events that have occurred in the past couple of decades, democracy as we know it and as well as our founding fathers knew it is fast becoming extinct. Thus, it becomes reasonable to predict that this nation is well on its way to becoming a Socialist state.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines democracy as a form of government by and for the people. Elections are held, and eligible citizens are able to vote for political candidates who supposedly best represent common ideals. Put simply, those in the public sector determine who is best suited to exercise political authority. Moreover, all inhabitants are regarded as equals without hereditary or arbitrary distinctions or privilege. In other words, we are not to be discriminated against due to race, creed, or lifestyle; provided that it is within legal boundaries, nor is one group supposed to be favored over another.
So what has happened over the past 20 years or so? Government has simply changed laws and passed intrusive ordinances at every level under the assumption that they know what is best for the public. Elected officials no longer represent the people but instead go along with whoever fills their pockets for campaign contributions or even personal gain. Promises that are made to the citizens are broken time and time again once the person in question has been elected to office. Within the confines of the public, those with the most money and thus influence have their wishes granted while the rest of us are left holding a figurative bag of coal.
Under the guise of saving lives, we have mandatory seat belt laws that infringe on our privacy, yet at the same time we could be building cars that get 150 miles to the gallon. Why hasn't this happened? The greedy oil companies would lose money! Government has concocted reports based on bogus, biased studies that employ junk science as a weapon to demonize those who choose to smoke tobacco; a legal product. Suddenly, in the past two decades, those who don't wear seat belts or who light up in public are classified as criminals. The concept of free enterprise no longer applies; as private business owners are forced to forfeit revenue from patrons who smoke. Tobacco users are further marginalized as public bans have been extended to the outdoors, in private dwellings, and personal vehicles. The act of smoking is deliberately being concealed from children as photos in history books that depict it are being airbrushed. An increasing number of cameras are being installed to intercept those who exceed speed limits and violate other traffic laws. Machines are not infallible. Whatever happened to the notion of being innocent until proven guilty? We are now being told by government what we can eat and drink as well. Soda machines are being banned from public schools, and foods with trans fats have been banned in many places. Similar to the flawed research on so-called "secondhand smoke," we can thank a man-made obesity epidemic that was created simply by lowering the accepted Body Mass Index of those labeled to be of ideal weight.
With national health care looming on the horizon, it's a sure bet that government will dictate further how we as citizens lead our lives. Karl Marx once said that Socialism is inevitable in every society. Big Brother has arrived. If the United States is to remain a democracy, we must show him the door.
That is, if it isn't too late already.
Learn more about this author, Patrick Sills.
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