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What form of Government was the US founded as?

What is our form of Government?


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The US was founded as a Limited Republic. That is, a Republic where a limited selection of the population was allowed to be involved in the political process. Where the US has gone most wrong is by overly expanding the selection of the population that is allowed to be involved in politics.
 
Where's the poll?
 
The US was founded as a Limited Republic. That is, a Republic where a limited selection of the population was allowed to be involved in the political process. Where the US has gone most wrong is by overly expanding the selection of the population that is allowed to be involved in politics.

A limited government, as the founders intended. I'm waiting for those who ignorantly think we are a democracy.
 
A limited government, as the founders intended. I'm waiting for those who ignorantly think we are a democracy.

I dropped the ball with my vote lol. Yea, we're a constitutional republic.
 
It was founded as an oligarchy, because only about 5-15% of the people living within the United States were eligible to vote at the time the Constitution was ratified. Since then, it has evolved into a representative republic.
 
It was founded as an oligarchy, because only about 5-15% of the people living within the United States were eligible to vote at the time the Constitution was ratified. Since then, it has evolved into a representative republic.

That is far from the truth, we were founded as a republic. The founders clearly stated that.
 
That is far from the truth, we were founded as a republic. The founders clearly stated that.

Yes, they STATED that. But then, so does Vladimir Putin. The reality was that only 5-15% of the population of the United States had a voice in their government at the time of the Constitution...that looks a lot like an oligarchy to me.
 
I think the whole "the US is not a direct and pure democracy (and was not planned as such)!!" thing is dumb. Like, who doesn't know that. At what primary school grade do we learn about rights and representation.
 
Yes, they STATED that. But then, so does Vladimir Putin. The reality was that only 5-15% of the population of the United States had a voice in their government at the time of the Constitution...that looks a lot like an oligarchy to me.

So are you saying they intended an oligarchy? Or are you not in the comprehension of that things didn't go as quickly as they do today?
 
A limited government, as the founders intended. I'm waiting for those who ignorantly think we are a democracy.

Better than those wannabe pedants who think we aren't:

de·moc·ra·cy   [dih-mok-ruh-see] Show IPA
noun, plural de·moc·ra·cies.
1.
government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
2.
a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies.
3.
a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
4.
political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5.
the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.
Democracy | Define Democracy at Dictionary.com


A representative republic falls within the scope of the definition of democracy. The poll should have been multi-choice. The U.S. is a democracy, and more specifically it is a republic.

Why is this question being considered over and over and over? Are people feeling insecure and wanting to seem to establish their intellectual bona fides by demonstrating their rather limited grasp of the history of government?
 
Yes, they STATED that. But then, so does Vladimir Putin. The reality was that only 5-15% of the population of the United States had a voice in their government at the time of the Constitution...that looks a lot like an oligarchy to me.

No. It was a Limited Republic, which is what it should still be. However, as we've opened the Right to Vote up to more and more groups of people, the quality of the voting pool has been greatly dilluted and that has done significant damage to the country as a whole.
 
So are you saying they intended an oligarchy? Or are you not in the comprehension of that things didn't go as quickly as they do today?

I think they intended to have a society that was led by white, property-owning males...essentially the elite class of their era. I would call that an oligarchy.
 
Better than those wannabe pedants who think we aren't:


Democracy | Define Democracy at Dictionary.com


A representative republic falls within the scope of the definition of democracy. The poll should have been multi-choice. The U.S. is a democracy, and more specifically it is a republic.

Why is this question being considered over and over and over? Are people feeling insecure and wanting to seem to establish their intellectual bona fides by demonstrating their rather limited grasp of the history of government?

Tell me where in the founding docs it mentions "democracy". Democracy is where the majority rules. A Republic is where there is a law, and a limited government.
 
I think they intended to have a society that was led by white, property-owning males...essentially the elite class of their era. I would call that an oligarchy.

Wow, you are really ignorant of our founding fathers. That is in no way the truth.
 
I think the whole "the US is not a direct and pure democracy (and was not planned as such)!!" thing is dumb. Like, who doesn't know that. At what primary school grade do we learn about rights and representation.

Thank you. My thoughts exactly.
 
Wow, you are really ignorant of our founding fathers. That is in no way the truth.

True. However, from my readings on those individuals, they were not in favor of allowing the bulk of the unwashed, uneducated, and uninformed citizens, who really have made no investment in society have a say in how things are run, either.
 
It was founded as an oligarchy, because only about 5-15% of the people living within the United States were eligible to vote at the time the Constitution was ratified. Since then, it has evolved into a representative republic.

your correct, on the voting part ..........Madison says in the federalist papers only people who have property and pay taxes can vote......it does not mention race or gender.

according too Madison, if people with no stake in our government ever get a vote, they will vote for those who promise them the most from the public trough, and take everything from those who have a stake, ....and bankruptcy follows.


the last 3 words are mine.
 
Tell me where in the founding docs it mentions "democracy". Democracy is where the majority rules. A Republic is where there is a law, and a limited government.


No, Democracy is not where "the majority rules". Majority rule is a principle of democracy, but isn't necessary in all cases in a democracy. There are direct democracies in existence today where strict 'majority rule' certainly does not decide ALL matters. They can also limit the powers of the government, though politically it would be difficult to maintain this.

True Republics are democracies, in most cases.

If you want to have conversations about limited government, why not just start out with that conversation? Why do people make fools of themselves trying and failing to sound intelligent by having a ridiculous semantic debate?
 
No. It was a Limited Republic, which is what it should still be. However, as we've opened the Right to Vote up to more and more groups of people, the quality of the voting pool has been greatly dilluted and that has done significant damage to the country as a whole.


Full citizens who have no vote as to their representation in a government can not be legitimately asked to obey the laws of that government. Disenfranchised people have no say in the social contract, so why should they obeys its edicts?
 
Tell me where in the founding docs it mentions "democracy". Democracy is where the majority rules. A Republic is where there is a law, and a limited government.



No, a republic is not necessarily limited government, its just a form of government without an inherited ruling class.

The Soviet Union was a republic for instance. A republic in and of itself has no defined limitations other than that laid out in its constitution (if it has one).

Republic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



REpublicanism on the other hand is something different and represents the politcal philosopy of the founding of America.
Republicanism in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Reply to Ernst Barkman
your correct, on the voting part ..........Madison says in the federalist papers only people who have property and pay taxes can vote......it does not mention race or gender.

according too Madison, if people with no stake in our government ever get a vote, they will vote for those who promise them the most from the public trough, and take everything from those who have a stake, ....and bankruptcy follows.


the last 3 words are mine."

Exactly and since Citizens United says corporations are people the quote applies specifically to the Military/Industrial/Corporate oligarchy, "if people with no stake in our government ever get a vote, they will vote for those who promise them the most from the public trough, and take everything from those who have a stake." That is what I see as the result of the ruling because the Corporate people don't live and breathe, ergo don't need to be concerned about the environment, just financial considerations. Their money buys the "best politcians money can buy." The end result will be bankruptcy and that is a lovely legal maneuver to protect Corporations against liability. Yes indeedy, I don't think the Founding Fathers intended this.
 
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