Georgia Magazine - August 2012 - (Page 7)
Liberty notes
Keeping the republic
As Benjamin Franklin left Independence Hall at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he was asked by a woman, “Well, doctor, what have we got—a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “You have a republic, madam, if you can keep it.” Preserving our republic begins with understanding what a republic is and how it should function. Politicians speak of “our democracy,” but none of them can name a single Founding Father who used that term to describe the system of government established in the U.S. Constitution. James Madison, among others, wrote about these terms in “The Federalist Papers,” essays that promoted the adoption of the Constitution. Madison defined “pure democracy” in “Federalist 41,” as “a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person.” This system worked for a short time in ancient Athens. Madison said democracies did not protect the rights of individuals and “have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property.” Madison wrote further: “A republic, by which I mean a government in which a scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking.” A republic is a representative form of government, in which the people choose their leaders to represent them in public bodies. While our republic may function according to democratic principles, to refer to it as a democracy is confusing and ignores the views of our Founders. —Jim Jess
For more about the kinds of government the founders could have chosen, see page 34B of web exclusive the August 2012 digital edition web exclusive online at www.georgiamagazine.org.
August 2012
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - August 2012
Georgia Magazine - August 2012
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Liberty Notes
Georgia News
Festival Guide
Calendar of Events
Currents
Ready, Set, Get Prepared
Georgia Farmers Return to Their Roots
Around Georgia
Picture This?
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot
Georgia Magazine - August 2012
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