Republic Republic

I believe in a republic and the code of law in which is uses to shackle the elected government. I believe it can truly bring about the truest form of freedom that exists in our chaotic world; that its existence can bring about a freedom absent from the fears and insanities seen on the news each day. At one point, I do not think I would have been alone in this belief. But, lately I wonder.

Men far wiser than myself obviously believed in a republic. Marcus Cicero once said “In a republic this rule ought to be observed, that the majority should not have the predominant power.” Being the greatest orator of his time, such a person giving thought to the atrocity of the majority dictating to the minority gives me pause about things I have begun to notice lately. I notice that when the pledge of allegiance is recited it proclaims “to the republic for which it stands”. This confuses me, not because of the pledges choice of words, but by of the choice of words people continue to use daily. I turn on the news and hear people in the minority arguing about some action being unconstitutional and the rebuttal seems to always be “Well, we live in a democracy and the people have spoken.” Have they really? I think not. Benjamin Franklin once said “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” Truer words, by a wiser man, were never spoken.

I hope the thought of eroding individual rights and liberties reaches others as it has reached me. Moreover, I hope that it disturbs others as much as I. If we live in a world where Bob and Tom vote to take from Steve to give to Bob and Tom, then were does that leave us as a society? Where does that leave our children if they happen to be Steve? Has our world strayed so far as to not rely on the good will of its people to look after their fellow man? Has charity truly died so that it must be taken forcibly by the many from the few? And if that is so, is it still really charity? I believe in human beings’ God-given right to decide things for themselves without the fear of being forced to march to the beat of the so-called many. That is why I believe in the REPUBLIC.