Democracy and the School System

This past Tuesday, Washington state voted by a significant majority to prohibit private parties from allowing smoking at their establishments at which the general public is permitted to frequent.

In other words, if you own a restaurant or bar or smoke shop in Washington state, you will be fined for allowing people to smoke at your establishment. This is a clear example of Americans' complete lack of knowledge as to our system of government.

Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government we have after the Constitution was ratified in Philadelphia. He replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." Please note, he did not say we have a democracy. There is a very simple explanation for this: the founders thought a democracy would lead to the majority tyrannizing the minority. And they were right to fear that, for that is precisely what happened in Washington state. The government has declared that you will be punished if you allow smoking at your commercial establishment.

Clearly, democracy has gone too far. Of course, our government is a Constitutional republic, meaning that the country is ruled by the people, but they cannot trounce the Constitution and take rights away from some because it is the popular thing to do.

For example, in Germany, it is against the law to impersonate Adolph Hitler. In France, it is against the law to write racist literature. While I agree that people shouldn't publish racist literature, this is America folks: we cannot take that right away from people. Because that right wasn't given by people, people cannot take it away. Our Constitution protects the minority.

Somehow, our country forgot this very important lesson. Even our Supreme Court justices are using precedent in countries with very different governments and laws to "interpret" our Constitution. Imagine that!

I can't wait until the first dissident is assasinated in this country because you can do it in China! Maybe people will determine our founding documents were in fact important, and not a means to an end.