Week 7--US Government -- The 5000 Year Leap

George Washington said that government is neither reason nor eloquence. What did he call it?

Force.

Describe how the word "democracy" became a tool of the socialist cause.

In 1905, the Intercollegiate Socialist Society (ISS) was set up to spread the idea of "industrial democracy," known as socialism. They changed their name to the "League for Industrial Democracy" after the USSR had given a bad meaning to the term "socialism."

How has the word "democracy" lost its identification with socialism in the American mind?

In World War II, socialist countries were failing and misusing the term "democracy," so it became a meaningless term. People began to equate it with the traditional Constitutional republic and calling us a "democratic republic."

Why will the Constitution never be obsolete or old-fashioned?

It was designed to control something that will never change--human nature.

How does this verse (Ex. 18:21) relate to the 12th Principle of Liberty?

Look for able men that hate bribes to be over them, like representatives are in a republic.

Tell how the government's own literature once distinguished between a democracy and a republic.

The US Army's training manual (1928) warned of the dangers of a democracy and the benefits of a republic.

What is the 12th Principle of Liberty?

The United States of America shall be a republic.

According to Hamilton, what is the greatest danger to the people's rights?

When the people completely trust a leader.

Explain how the term "democracy" became entrenched as a description of our society during President Woodrow Wilson's administration.

Wilson was the first president to use "democracy" to describe America, saying that World War I allies were making the world safe for democracy.

Can it be said that the term "democracy" has actually been used to attack the Constitution? Explain.

Yes, Sam Adams said the Founders made socialism "unconstitutional." To adopt socialism, the people must lose respect and support for the Constitution.

Describe James Madison's two-step approach to developing a good government.

1) The government must have enough power to control the governed, but 2) It must be able to control itself.

What is the 13th Principle of Liberty?

A Constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers.

What is a democracy? Why does democracy always end in tyranny?

A system of government by ALL the people, ruled by the majority, even if wrong. It always fails because the people become tired of law-making, more occupied with their daily lives, that they do not study the issues or participate in extensive hearings before voting. Greece tried this in each of their city-states, and each time ended in tyranny.

What is a republic? Why did the Founders prefer it to a democracy?

A system of government by freely elected representatives, ruled by law. The Founders preferred a republic because a democracy was limited to a small space, whereas a republic could be extended over a large region.

At what point should patriotic Americans sound the alarm over an erosion of our liberties?

At the first experiment on our liberties.

How do these verses (Ex. 23:8; Deut. 17:18-20) relate to the 13th Principle of Liberty?

Bribes will blind a person from keeping the law and protecting the people.

Describe Thomas Jefferson's feelings about trusting our political leaders.

Confidence in man gives rise to tyranny; free government is founded in jealousy; "let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by chains of the Constitution."