"Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor."
by:
James Russell Lowell
(1819-1891) American author and diplomatist
Source:
The Biglow Papers, II, 1862
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;-) More likely Democracy gives man the right to oppress his neighbors (before they vote to oppress him).
 -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Agree. If a man choses to be his Own oppressor, then he should be allowed to be his Own oppressor. PERIOD.
     -- My Name, Your Town,USA     
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    If we did not have the right to be stupid we would need some one to decide what stupid was. We would also need to be stupid enough to accept it.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    My Name, I agree with you. If I chose to oppress myself, I should be allowed to; however, if I choose to oppress myself, I should not be allowed to do so if it violates the rights of and oppresses my neighbor. This is the fundamental difference between Democracy and the American Republic. The dichotomy is set. Democracies end in a manner of the Hutu/Tutsi conflict. Our Republic allows for a man to be his own oppressor; however, unlike Democracy, it stipulates that you cannot be your own oppressor at the expense of the rights of your neighbor.
     -- Logan, Memphis, TN     
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    Democracy is a measure of collective groups to a whole. Individuals may join a group by vote or other means BUT ! ! ultimately, the individual and his humanity is/are (individually and jointly) lost to the group's facade. Democracy by definition, can NOT give "every" or any one man a right(s). All rights are inalienable in each and every individual as a faculty of birth. By the de jure foundation of law and justice (the natural law that "IS" - the laws of nature and of nature's God = gravity, physics, fiscal law, etc.) define eternal reality, an individual may oppress himself at form of law while oppressing others is criminal.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    De-mob-ocracy allows the best organized mob to force everyone to march in lockstep with it.  Our founders mandated a republic in Article 4, Section 4 of our Constitution. http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democracy_vs_Republic
     -- Poorgrandchildren, Birmingham     
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    Democracy creates the conditions for an individual not to be an oppressor or oppressed.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, wrong again. Democracy only creates a condition where the individual's: sovereignty, nobility, inalienable rights, liberty, ability to create, love, truth, knowledge can NOT occur.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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