I keep coming across a statement that goes something like, “Democracy dies in darkness”. It seems to be the new slogan of the Washington Post. When you consider how much the Post does to hide the truth you realize it is another case of Newspeak which is famous for its triplet of “War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength”.
That much is obvious to anyone who is awake enough to change the channel. What is getting irritating is when I see people who identify as conservative parroting the phrase. I have two issues with this.
First off it is liberty that dies, not democracy. Democracy does quite well in totalitarian states. They have elections. Everyone is encouraged to vote. In some places you are punished if you don’t vote. The problem is that you only have one choice. Our American press core is a great example of that kind of “democracy”. It is kind of like the old line about the Model A, “You can have any color you want as long as it is black”. Liberty usually involves a system of open and fair elections but it can also exist in anarchy. Liberty means I am protected from the whims of a majority that hates me. Keep in mind that Patrick Henry didn’t say, “Give me democracy, or give me death”.
Second, we are a republic, not a democracy. We need to keep repeating that until the unwashed masses understand the difference.
I recommend changing it to liberty.
homo unius libri
I'm afraid the left hates the term "republic" because it insinuates republicans, their sworn enemy.
ReplyDeleteAnd that works with the name "democrat" going all the way back to Jefferson.
DeleteGrace and peace
"A republic, if you can keep it." Ben Franklin to Mrs. Powell when asked what kind of government the delegates had formed.
ReplyDeleteI cringe, then get mad, every time I hear someone talk about America as a democracy.
We need to keep reminding them.
DeleteGrace and peace