James Madison Quote

"A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union."

by:	James Madison (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President
Source:	Federalist Paper #10, 1787
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Categories:	Democracy, Government, Representation, Republic
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Madison clears up the dichotomy that some suffer under that "Ameica is a republic not a democracy". His definition of "Republic" is a government with "a scheme of representation....that differs from pure democracy". I agree wholeheartedly with his definition. America's government or republic iis a democraticaly elected representative one. It is not a pure democracy and it most definitely is not "a republic not a democracy" as some would have it.  -- Waffler, Smith
Not quite, Waffler. At least you got that the government for the USA is NOT a pure democracy -- it is in fact a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLICAN form of government. In the Federalist Papers, and in this particular passage, Madison goes on to explain the difference and why the representative republican model with numerous checks and balances was proposed INSTEAD of a democracy. What's even better are Madison's reasons a pure democracy would eventually become a despotic government. However, the USA started to move towards a pure democracy with the Reconstruction Amendments. As well, as the People lost their rights to freehold land/property, electors no longer represented them, and thus the corruption of voting away people's property came into fashion. But you can't vote to take from the Treasury if there is nothing in there, so when the government enacted the Federal Reserve Act, they created a way to 'borrow' on the backs of the People with no limit. So now, the politicians merely promise to their supporters that they will print up money for them while taxing the opposition to pay for the debt. All we do is vote for money now -- and that is what a democracy eventually devolves into when there are no checks or limits to what can be voted on -- that is a pure democracy, and Madison (and others) warned us of the temptation.  -- E Archer, NYC      1
Missions impossible, to pay taxes with dollar bills that the IRS (Imaginary Revenue Scum) said "are not dollars" or with credit. The Federal Reserve said their system of plunder "works only with credit/|" that would keep its value :if there were fewer people bidding against eacjh other." It is impossible to pay taxes with anything less than silver coins and they do not circulate. The Greek roots of democracy translate to "rule by man." Only fools believe we are not ruled by men, The republic is out and this God-forbidden democracy is in, Democracy is majority rule whether the majority is good or evil. "Thou shalt not follow multitude of Waffler's to do evil." Exodus 23:2  -- Eben Hadgagin, Anytown USA
Waffler is on his twisted little hamster wheel again.  -- J Carlton, Calgary
I am new to this blog, and I am very interested by the 2 or 3 quotes that I have seen, but what is even more fascinating to me is that someone would actually name himself "Waffler"; I don't understand that. Am I missing something? Is there a more flattering definition of that word that I just don't know about?  -- Sutter, Birmingham, AL      1
very good quote  -- hamid prof ibrahim, Malaysia
I think Waffler is part of the "majority" that voted for "change" thinking this nation is a Democracy. God knows we need to restore our Constitutional Republic by first educating the Wafflers of the USA.  -- agkruse, O'Neill
Well said Archer, If they say, come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause. They fill their houses with spoil. Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse. My son walk, walk not thou in the way with them, refrain thy foot from their path. They, the democracy lurk in private because of their greediness of gain. They hate the knowledge of our once True Republic. Keeping the sheep ignorant of the truth of Liberty and Freedom !  -- Ronw13, Yachats Or
agkruse, The wafflers are past educating.  -- jim k, Austin
Those that forget history are doomed to relive it. In Amerika's case, democracy is enhanced with such events as 108% of the vote going to one candidate; 0% going to the other candidate.  -- Mike, Norwalk
Well said Mike !  -- Ronw13, Yachats Or

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