Socialism, communism, democracy or republic?
Socialism, communism, democracy or republic?
"...and to the Republic for which it stands..." Those words are taken from our Pledge of Allegiance. Is the United States a Republic?
According to the Webster-Merriman dictionary, a Republic is "a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law." The United States was set up as a Republic. We have elections and elect officers and representatives. They are supposed to repesent us and govern according to law.
According to the Webster-Merriman dictionary, a Democracy is " a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly." Contrary to what many people believe, the United States is not and never was set up to be a Democracy.
According to the Webster-Merriman dictionary, Communism is " a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production." This sounds dangerously close to the path that the United States is heading. We are not there yet, but if we are not careful, we could get there.
According to the Webster-Merriman dictionary, Socialism is "any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods." With the United States government bailing out the banking and automobile industries, the government has shown signs of trying to take control of those industries. While we are not completely Socialist, we are heading full steam in that direction.
The American citizens need to make a decision. Do we want to be a Republic like the founders of our country intended or do we want to be Socialist with the danger of becoming Communists.
For liberals who want to keep on our current path, here are some quotes to keep in mind:
"If men, through fear, fraud, or mistake, should in terms renounce or give up any natural right, the eternal law of reason and the grand end of society would absolutely vacate such renunciation. The right to freedom being the gift of Almighty God, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave."-Samuel Adams.
"The inherent vice of capitalism is the uneven division of blessings, while the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal division of misery."-Sir Winston Churchill
"Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. ... Six days shalt thou labor, though one of the old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them."-Benjamin Franklin.
All quotes were found at http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quotes.nsf/quotes_category!ReadForm&Count=50&Start=251&RestrictToCategory=socialism
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