Please note: A republican method of governance does not mean everyone belongs to and votes the “Republican Party” ticket. Nor, does the democratic governance method mean everyone adhering belongs to the “Democratic Party” ticket. The political party is not the style of governance, and this is the first distinction that must be realized. No political party deserves your support, unless they espouse, and live, what you want them to espouse and live. America has had good and poor elected officials from both major political parties. America has even changed major political parties; and this is a good thing!
Too often people are confusing democracy, democratic governance, and the American Republic. Talking heads in the media get this wrong all the time. Hollywood has never gotten the distinction correct, ever. But, this ignorance might be by design as Hollywood has always been a breeding ground for disinformation, propaganda, and elitist posturing. Regardless of the political party, or lack of political party, every American citizen should be able to recognize Democracy from Republican styles of governance. The following uses real events to help distinguish the line.
A democracy, at its most basic level, can be described and defined by the control of an organization by the majority of its members. A simple majority is all it takes to gain the high ground and punish the loser. A simple majority is if 100 people gather in a room, they need 51 to agree to support a single idea. Democracies are full of simple majorities who then try to proclaim a moral high ground, and then attempt to extrapolate the single simple majority into a system of keeping the simple majority.
A republic begins with the philosophy and doctrine that embraces equality between its members as the ideal in governance. Recognizing that today’s majority is tomorrow’s minority, rules provide equality between people, and all titles are transitory. A republic is messy; equality in treatment under the law allows for every person to have the same opportunity because their inalienable rights have provided them with eternal potential to become anything they desire. This is especially true when a person desires through their actions, attitudes, and behaviors, which is not desired by the rest of the society, provided the individual does not break the law. However, laws are not changed to outlaw behaviors, curb ideas, or infringe upon inalienable rights as laid out and codified in the Bill of Rights.
For example, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), recently sent a report regarding an investigation of Peter Shelby, the previous VA Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration (HR&A), who steered a $5 million contract for the benefit of individuals with whom he had a personal relationship. This is a prime example of democracy in action. The person in charge had to pay for the simple majority that kept him in power. Consider the following direct consequences of Mr. Shelby’s actions.
“The contract … included talent assessment services for evaluating whether to hire or promote candidates. When the contract concluded in August 2019, it became evident that VA had purchased services far in excess of what it could use. VA used only 232 of the 17,000 one-year training licenses it purchased for $3.8 million and VA received no value whatsoever for the talent assessment services because required privacy and security certifications were not obtained.”
Mr. Shelby was allowed to resign when he discovered he was about to be fired from Government service. Thus, he keeps all his retirement, all his Federal benefits, and the money gained from his ill-gotten ventures. In many countries around the world, these actions are considered, “Realpolitik.” Realpolitik is politics or diplomacy based primarily on considerations of given circumstances and factors, rather than explicit ideological notions or moral and ethical premises. In America, Mr. Shelby’s actions are illegal and should have been punished accordingly.
The American Public has witnessed the same political gamesmanship (realpolitik) in the US House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Presidency, for a long time. All because, the line between a Republic and a Democracy has been intentionally blurred by those in power, to stay in power. Never does realpolitik benefit the rule of law, or provide equality as a basic and fundamental position of governance. Bringing into the conversation the critical quality of genetic behavior and the exponential growth of behavior from one generation to the next. If Mr. Shelby’s actions can be traced upwards through the behavior of elected officials; how many more unethical behaviors are hiding inside the government workforce waiting for their opportunity to practice realpolitik at the expense of the veterans, taxpayers, and citizenry of America?
Genetic behavioral growth is witnessed when a congressional member is allowed to bend an ethical rule in the name of politics so the simple majority can be sustained. The next generations are the governors and state legislatures who then replicate and advance that unethical behavior to one that is blatantly illegal, but not “really bad.” Extramarital affairs, drug use or abuse, alcohol abuse, spouse abuse, homosexuality, etc., are all not “really bad,” laws that are regularly shattered and overlooked to maintain the simple majority. This then leads employees of governments to act in a looser and more illegal or unethical manner, stealing the public money, misusing government tools and supplies, or in the case of Peter Shelby, forming a relationship and then steering a $5 Million-dollar contract to the entity that most benefits him.
In a republic, those in power recognize the genetic nature of their behavior, understand that any lapses in good judgment are dangerous, and work to live in a manner that first allows for equality among all. Even if they must tell another person no. Consider how much corruption is in Washington, D.C., and every state capital in America, all because the simple majority has lured good people into acting against their principles, against the Republican form of American governance, and against the law established and maintained by the people, for the people, and of the people. The simple majority will always, to maintain power, refuse to say no, set boundaries, and live by rules and laws. The republican form of government lives by nothing else but the rules and the laws because equality only occurs under the rule of law.
Notice something important, the first rule of realpolitik is to disconnect the equality of everyone for the power of ruling. Just as in the book “1984” we see some are more equal than others; which is an extension of democracy. Then, realpolitik disconnects explicit notions of morality and ethics from actions and behaviors. Thus, equality is the first casualty in the hostile takeover of democracy.
Consider labor unions for a moment. Disney produced the movie, “Invincible,” or the story of Vince Papale and the NFL Eagles. In the movie, there is a union striking, and one sign is made clear, “Striking is DEMOCRACY IN ACTION” [emphasis in original]. The truth in this lie is that strikes are selfish, and represents democracy perfectly. But, the strike is not democracy in action, the labor union is democracy in action as a legal “pyramid scheme.” The strike of a labor union, along with all the other work slowdowns, bureaucracies, and other silly games played to thwart republic governance are but tools of democratic leaders to exercise their power.
The labor union spouts a lot of good democratic styled speeches; but acts like thugs, for the benefit of the elected few, at the cost of the dues-paying members. Proving that democracy is the last thing a labor union wants as the labor union remains a Marxist method of governance. Take any labor union, anywhere in the world, and you will find the elected officials living large on the backs, sweat, and labor of the dues-paying members. The fewest of the few long-term dues-paying members will be provided benefits and a lifestyle to be desired, but never obtained, even though the dues have been paid, the labor performed, and the sacrifices made. The Wall Street Journal has covered the loss of benefits paid for through dues payments, and while the Wall Street Journal does it’s best to keep the union out of the picture, it is not the company’s filing lawsuits, but the unions.
Always, the same principle determines the separation between democracy and republican governance, equality under the law. The solution is not found in more government programs to “level the playing field,” which is a democratic principle that has never worked! The solution is found in less government. Equality under the law is not found in government force; but, in less government potential to exercise that force. In the 1980s President Reagan was heralded for his nationalizing of the air traffic controllers; thus, ending a strike of the national air traffic controllers. But, the air traffic controllers still have the same inequalities, same problems, and the same issues as experienced under the air traffic control unions. Nothing changed fundamentally, and this overreach of government, “for public safety,” has kept the air traffic controller in bondage. Sure, the cage is nicer, but the cage is still a cage; only now, there is no possible way of escaping the cage. The same is true of railroad workers, teachers, and so many other employees kept under a labor union’s thumb, or government mandate.
In a democracy, it is perfectly acceptable to maintain the simple majority through nefarious means and ends. Whereas in a republic, the equality that keeps everyone equally refuses the nefarious types every society produces from having a purchase hold to establish themselves. Consider the violence that has rocked America since May 2020. Consider also, all the violence that has shocked and dismayed America since the Watts Riots in 1965. The Watts Riots are a perfect template reflecting the problems of democracy.
The media, and many people in government including most of the judicial branch, allowed personal anger over issues to become a violent outpouring, where the victim was the community and not the actual target of the violence. People acted in a selfish manner, with a total lack of self-control, and the community of Watts burned to the ground. The land is barren, dreams destroyed and lives ruined. Since the Watts Riots, the community has reached out for more democratic solutions, as if this was not the reason the Watts Riots happened in the first place. Fast forward from 1965, and every riot since has been glorified for their anger levels, because this helps feed the democratic solutions, keeping people unequal, refusing people their eternal potential, and denying inalienable rights to maintain power and authority.
America, we need to stop the lies that democracy is the “American Way.” Superman was correct, “Truth and Justice” are the American Way, which is the Republican manner of governance. America was established upon the fundamental principle that ALL are first equal under the law. Sure, we have not always lived up to the ideal; but, we are human. Our humanness is allowing us to falter, not fail. We fail the great American Republic every time we allow a democratic solution that forces people onto unequal terms. We stumble, we fall, when we forget that equality is precious and considering all to have the same equality means allowing people to suffer consequences of attitudes and behaviors.
When one person can be supported in their immorality because of their money (Jackson, Kennedy, Epstein, Clinton, Weinstein, etc.) when others are punished for the same crimes (pedophiles, murderers, thieves, rapists, etc.) we have a democracy. When all, regardless of money, titles, political power, etc. are held to the same laws and legal standards the great American Republic survives and gains strength. To rebuild the American Republic, we must first cleanse the inward vessel, removing from public office all those who refuse the blessings and work of a republic for the ease and captivity of a democracy.
© Copyright 2020 – M. Dave Salisbury
The author holds no claims for the art used herein, the pictures were obtained in the public domain, and the intellectual property belongs to those who created the pictures.
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We are learning by sad experience that many, especially on college campuses and in professional sports arenas, consider respect to be a one-direction demand, where accountability is not enforced and where the hooligans and terrorists of thought, demand and punctuate their demands with violence. A person, who tries to curtail the thoughts of others with physical, verbal, or emotional abuse, has crossed the line into thought terrorism, and their voice is reduced to nothing, even though mainstream media (MSM) outlets provide these people a soapbox to reach a larger audience. A person, who demands respect to flow to them and refuses to give respect to others, is abusing verbally and emotionally those they refuse to respect.
The engaged learner prepares fully in a constant cycle of learn and teach and needs to be supported in this cycle in order to remain a learner preparing to teach and a teacher preparing to learn. The leader has responsibility for teaching correct principles and embracing the need for the learner to govern himself or herself. Thoughts and beliefs, opinions, and personal preferences cannot and should not be litigated, forced, or coerced. Those, who choose to act in a manner not conducive to a quiet and orderly discussion, diminish themselves, harm themselves, and place themselves outside civilization, like the rabid dogs of the west. The proper response by civilization for those placing themselves in this category, rabid dogs or wolves, remains the same: permanent separation and removal.
When those possessing delegated authority use that authority to denigrate, deride, and destroy, that authority needs to be publically stripped, and the individual forced to make amends concurrent with the laws of the land and the expectations of society. We have come to a point in the laws of America where those with money and powerful political connections (Anthony Weiner) can receive pitiful punishments for dangerous crimes, and those without powerful political friends and money receive far harsher sentences for crimes committed, where standard sentence guidelines include some portion of all of the following: 5-10 years in prison, registering as a sex offender, and fines starting at $50,000 (Lorang, McNiel, & Binder, 2016).
The same is true for the inaction and legal quandary Obama created at the IRS and the VA, managers performed tasks that were incongruent with the law, were not held accountable, thus the president remains culpable.
Leadership begins with those who selected their leaders demanding an accounting for the authority delegated to them. Use the principles of leadership mentioned and the inviolate laws to correct yourself, your family, and then demand from society the same. When we do this as a nation standing for liberty, we will succeed, and those naysayers and whiffle-whafflers will be held in eternal contempt because of their actions against us, the citizens of this Republic, the United States of America!
DNC-Consulting 