Mills: A lesson in civics

Speakout

Posted

The Sept. 27 Register article about the most recent Daschle Dialogue was interesting, but also a bit troubling. 

In the article, both former Sen. Tom Daschle and newsman Jonathan Karl, the evening’s featured speaker, commented multiple times on the state of “our democracy.” 

Having recently celebrated Sept. 17, “Constitution Day,” their comments were a reminder of how few people know what kind of government we have in America. We are not a democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic. The difference matters.

In a democracy, the people make all of the decisions. In a constitutional republic, the people choose their leaders, then the leaders make the decisions, but only within the constraints of a constitution. There is chaos and trouble in a democracy. Stability, reason and liberty are found in a republic.

At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked “what kind of government did you give us?” His answer, “a republic” and then he added, “if you can keep it.” That was a clear description of the form of government we have – followed by a reminder that it would take work to maintain it.

Benjamin Franklin was not alone. The founding fathers did not want us to be a democracy. John Adams, a signer of the Constitution and America’s second president, said,”there never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” 

Many signers of the Constitution said similar things.

At this time, when “civics” is a major topic in South Dakota, it’s important for all of us to remember the basics.

 If we want to keep all of the blessings we enjoy, blessings that come from the inspired framework America was founded on, we need to remember the words of the pledge “... and to the Republic for which it stands ... ” Only by understanding our history will we be able to keep this republic and remain “... one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”