Princeton research paper concludes America's government is not a democracy. What y'all think about this?

2014-04-19T00:31:37-04:00

I haven't finished the actual paper yet (its 42 pages) but the article seems to be an over simplification, but I'm curious to see the supporting research for its claims.  I'm not drawing any opinion from the article.  I'd rather read the source myself.  It is an interesting thought.<div>Please only vote if you have at least read the article, but I'd encourage reading some of the research paper.</div><div>http://www.policymic.com/articles/87719/princeton-concludes-what-kind-of-government-america-really-has-and-it-s-not-a-democracy<br></div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://thumbs.policymic.com/q_6eZFWu8CP88XO0H8XPGiZXSDU=/11x202:5616x3737/1910x1000/s3.amazonaws.com/policymic-images/2eecd73a6ad3479ade22ba4dc9a1297d7841dcaa9e9ad176fa28c4d143376ba4.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/87719/princeton-concludes-what-kind-of-government-america-really-has-and-it-s-not-a-democracy">Princeton Concludes What Kind of Government America Really Has, and It's Not a Democracy</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Scientists have proven that our government is far from what we believe.</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Apr 19 at 2014 12:52 AM

2014-04-19T00:52:19-04:00

<p>Samuel Adams once said "If ever the time should come, when vain & aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of it's experienced patriots to prevent it's ruin."  </p><p><br></p><p>My fellow Americans that time has come.  </p><p><br></p><p>What Say You?</p>

Response by SSG Daniel Rosploch made Apr 19 at 2014 12:22 PM

2014-04-19T12:22:43-04:00

As has been said before, we are a republic, NOT a democracy. To quote a rather over-used phrase: "In a republic, my property is my domain and supports the minority. In a democracy, the majority can vote to take my property so the majority rules." Either way, we have lost what this country was initially founded upon, freedom for the lower class and the minority. Of course, it is always up for debate if America was actually founded upon these principles or not. If you're interested in seeing another view of the founding, read "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. I'm not advocating his views, just bringing something new to the debate.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 2:22 PM

2014-04-19T14:22:04-04:00

They needed a study to do that? Ever since I was a kid I've known it was a Republic.

I don't think they could feasibly collect all 300 million or so votes (ok, closer to 150 million).

We use that same system just about everywhere. Yeah, it leads to political corruption in that people can be bought and stuff, but we've done a pretty decent job for a few hundred years.

One could argue though that now that we have better technology we could easily count votes.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 19 at 2014 2:27 PM

2014-04-19T14:27:59-04:00

First of all the US Government was NEVER a Democracy. I would challenge any of you to find the word Democracy in either the Declaration of Independence, OR the U.S. Constitution. This country was founded, first as a Confederacy, and then as a Federal Republic. Benjamin Franklin was famous for answering the woman on the steps in Philadelphia when asked what form of government have you given us. Mr. Franklin answered "A Republic. If you can keep it."

That being said Rather than Oligarchy, it seems clear that what we have is largely a Corporatist System whereby Corporations, Unions, and other Special Interest groups contribute large sums of money to elect Representatives, Senators, Governors, or Presidents and then expect, and receive even larger and more profitable favors, exclusions, or monopolies from government in return. It is the enormous regulatory system that has developed over time that makes this possible. As Eisenhower said, we muse beware the Military Industrial Complex. Though the problem does not solely exist on the Military end of things, the Military Industrial complex IS a sizeable part of the problem. Clearly this quid-pro-quo runs the gamut from corporations, to States, to foreign governments, and has terribly distorted our system of Limited governance, Of, By, and For the People, into one FOR the special interests, with the money to fund the elections.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2014 3:46 PM

2014-04-20T15:46:07-04:00

"...and to the republic for which it stands..."

That about sums it up.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Apr 20 at 2014 7:41 PM

2014-04-20T19:41:37-04:00

This country was born a republic. We have never been a democracy. Today is more a

Aristotle defines an oligarchy as —”when men of property have the government in their hands.” Throughout history, oligarchies have been tyrannical, relying on public obedience and/or oppression to exist.

I disagree with the article's assertion of an oligarchy. Today we have become a Plutocracy. Wealthy individuals and organizations have exerted influence over the political arena. Our democratic republic permits fundraising for politicians who frequently rely on such income for advertising their candidacy to the voting public.

The donations engender a cronyist or patronage system via which major contributors are rewarded on a quid pro quo basis. The natural expectation of donors is that their needs will be served by the person to whom they donated. If not, it is in their self-interest to fund a different candidate or political organization.

Plutocrats ignore their social responsibilities, use their power to serve their own purposes, and thereby increase poverty and nurture class conflict, corrupting society with greed and hedonism.

Any real change that has happened in this country has been at the hands of the citizens, and it is usually not pretty. The American Revolution, Civil War, and other trying times are the true harbingers of change. But Americans have gone soft and do not want to sacrifice in order to achieve real change. We like our 'conveniences' too much and most have an entitlement mentality. That leaves us open to oligarchy and dictatorship. History has shown us, and history repeats itself.

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Jun 11 at 2014 6:01 PM

2014-06-11T18:01:51-04:00

America is a Republic and not a Democracy. a republic is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter, or constitution, and a democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority.

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Jun 11 at 2014 6:16 PM

2014-06-11T18:16:40-04:00

I would take any research paper coming out of Princeton with a grain of salt!

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Jun 11 at 2014 10:14 PM

2014-06-11T22:14:53-04:00

First, we are a Republic, not a Democracy. Second, Our Country was not founded upon majority rule.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Oct 20 at 2015 3:12 PM

2015-10-20T15:12:21-04:00

America is not now, never was and hopefully will never be a democracy which is a nice way of saying mob rule. America was, and should be, a representative constitutional republic.

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Mar 20 at 2016 9:39 PM

2016-03-20T21:39:01-04:00

Our government is supposed to be a republic. The one way I was taught in school that makes our government a democracy is that a republic government falls under the democracy category (as opposed to a monarchy, theocracy, etc.); although the basic definition of a true democratic government has already been covered here in the comments. Our current government is, at best, a far cry and shadow of what our founders wanted and created for us after the Constitution was drafted and signed into law. Sadder still is that many people who can legally vote here have no idea how our government is supposed to function; let alone this country's history.