Why we're doing it ..."It's a republic, Ma'am - - IF you can keep it."
- Ben Franklin, Phila. Penna., Sept 21, 1787 These United StatesNever forget that the STATES created these United States, not the other way around. AND, that the powers and authorities of the Federal government are specifically limited, they are listed and they are few, while the powers of the States and of the People are specifically (almost completely) unlimited and many.
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Government gets its just authority to govern from the Consent of the Governed.
A republic is a form of self-governance by those who are governed - and in the case of these United States, that includes our States as well as We, the People. And, it is our STATES where most of our Domestic governing is to take place. Our Federal government and President are not SUPPOSED to govern us DOMESTICALLY. He or she is to help govern the States collectively, to help facilitate matters between them and to represent the States to foreign governments in all matters. Our States, being much more responsive to the People who live in them, are large enough to provide meaningful governing services, yet small enough to be accountable to the People. The Consent of the Governed is far more effectively granted or withheld at the State level than it is at the Federal! At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in September 1787, after four hot, grueling months of debate and deliberation, a local citizen of Philadelphia approached Benjamin Franklin outside Independence Hall and asked him, "Well, Dr. Franklin - What have you given us? Is it a republic - or a monarchy?" |