Our federal republic: Dangling by a thread - By Henry Lamb

Democracy is often described as two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Democracy is mob rule. Democracy collapses when the majority discovers it can vote for itself treasure from the public coffers. Democracy is the last plateau of social order before anarchy. America's founders knew this and chose not to create a democracy, opting instead to create a federal republic. A cornerstone of this republic was the Senate, whose members were chosen by the, while members of the House of Representatives were chosen by the people. This balance was destroyed on April 8, 1913, when the 17th Amendment was ratified, taking the election of senators away from state legislatures and submitting their election to the popular vote. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but the change stripped states of an important power to impose a check and balance on the expanding power of the federal government. [Continue reading]

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