Originally Posted by rrrrrroger

Which is why Athens fell. Too much democracy led them into a foolsih war that they ultimately lost. Then they lost their empire. (Sound familiar?) Even the American Founders said democracy is a poor way to run a country, which is why we have a Republic of Laws, not majority rules.

They envisioned wise, learned leaders making decisions on behalf of the uneducated masses and tried to design a system where only one branch (the House) was under direct control of the citizens. The President and Senators were elected by the States, and the Supreme Court not elected at all, but instead assigned to a lifetime role.

But we no longer have a republic.
We have a democracy.

The leaders must do what Hillary, McCain, and all the rest are doing: Telling citizens what they want to hear ("If you elect me, I'll give you free stuff"), rather than rule wisely by cutting spending, paying off the debt, and preparing to face the shock of oil starvation. The leaders don't rule. The masses rule. And the masses are ignorant boobs. Like full-grown children. (Recent psych studies show that today's adults never pass the childhood stage; they are narcisists.)

Democracy is a poor way to run a country.
Republicanism/federalism is a better approach.
"You have a Republic. If you can keep it," said Benjamin Franklin.
Well we lost it. Today the country is run by polls, not laws.