tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post112205697057261967..comments2024-03-28T12:12:45.202-05:00Comments on Independent Country: So It's a Republic, Not A Democracy, Big DealAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620822221586726516noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post-1122479856747948902005-07-27T10:57:00.000-05:002005-07-27T10:57:00.000-05:00I think that quote was originally a Bircher talkin...I think that quote was originally a Bircher talking point. It's true given a very idiosyncratic definition of both "republic" and "democracy," but not necessarily true otherwise. <BR/><BR/>A "republic," loosely defined, is a non-monarchical government--which could include a direct democracy. And a "democracy," loosely defined, is simply popular government--which can include a representative system.<BR/><BR/>Birchers tend to get wrapped around the axle with their house definitions, anyway. Another Bircher talking point I've heard numerous times is that "socialism is the first step toward communism"--which is true only if your definition of "socialism" is based on a Leninist reading of "Critique of the Gotha Program." There were plenty of socialists, historically (Proudhon, Hodgskin, and Tucker come to mind), who did not favor collectivism in any form.Kevin Carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07525803609000364993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post-1122128875731502052005-07-23T09:27:00.000-05:002005-07-23T09:27:00.000-05:00Point well made, but I still get annoyed by the co...Point well made, but I still get annoyed by the constant reference to "democracy" I hear all the time. I suppose that's because so many that use the term seem to think there's some collective wisdom the masses have and that if "the people decide", everything will be hunky dory.Fred Mangelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15746646487480850444noreply@blogger.com