The Farmers called our government a republic instead of a democracy because they wanted to be clear that they were creating a representative constitutional democracy and not a direct democracy.
If the Framers were alive today?
1. What do you think they would say about our move towards direct democracy.
2. Would they be right?
Didn't you see Bobpursley's answer on Thursday?
http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1289499550
If the Framers of the United States Constitution were alive today, it is difficult to predict exactly what they would say about our move towards direct democracy. However, based on their intentions and concerns regarding democratic principles, we can make some educated assumptions.
1. Regarding the move towards direct democracy: The Framers were wary of direct democracy, which is a system where citizens directly participate in decision-making. They believed that direct democracy could potentially threaten the stability of the government and the protection of individual rights. They were concerned about the "tyranny of the majority," where a majority could unjustly suppress the rights of minority groups. Instead, they sought to establish a representative democracy, where elected officials make decisions on behalf of the people.
If direct democracy were to become more prevalent in modern times, the Framers might express concerns about the potential pitfalls of such a system. They might argue that without proper checks and balances, direct democracy could lead to hasty or uninformed decision-making, manipulation by special interest groups, or a lack of long-term perspective required for complex policy decisions.
2. The question of whether they would be right: This is subjective and open to interpretation. The Framers' concerns about direct democracy were based on their understanding of the complexities of governance and their belief in the importance of representative institutions. However, it is important to consider that societies change over time, and what worked in the late 18th century may not work in the same way today.
Advocates for direct democracy argue that it allows for more direct citizen participation and strengthens popular sovereignty. They believe that modern technology can facilitate widespread and informed decision-making, mitigating some of the challenges faced by the Framers.
Ultimately, whether the Framers would be right or not about our move towards direct democracy is a matter of perspective and depends on how well a direct democracy system is implemented and balanced with safeguards to protect individual rights and ensure informed decision-making.