Which do we have?

[NMB2]

This isn't a trick question. After a conversation with a buddy at work today, I feel he gives too little credit to the American people, but after the result of the poles on a few other sites I am starting to see his point.

[Sharpienads]

Are you asking what we are supposed to have, or what we actually have? And are we talking federal, state, local, all of the above?

[NMB2]

Are you asking what we are supposed to have, or what we actually have?

That is kind of a trick question :P

Because what we are supposed to have is what we actually have. Regardless of if our current government ignores it (which they do)

Kind of like saying.... If I tell you the sky is red, doesn't make it red, its still blue.... but for all intents and purposes lets go with what we are supposed to have.

We all tracking?

[quondom fremd]

I would have to go with "Replublic"

[NMB2]

I would have to go with "Replublic"

I guess I kind of botched the spelling. Sorry.

[Timothy]

the government works because the system is fixed

[cstone]

I thought we were living in an autonomous collective.

[hammer03]

I was told by a guy at work that we *should* change to a Democracy, it would make things better.

I asked him what he thought after Obummer was re-elected (he claims to be a conservative). He wasn't so sure any more.

[GilpinGuy]

We live in a Republic with some democratic institutions. Therefore, Hybrid, no?

[JM Ver. 2.0]

We live in a Republic with some democratic institutions. Therefore, Hybrid, no?
The republic of bacon!!!!!

[GilpinGuy]

The republic of bacon!!!!!

Yes! [LOL]

[Sharpienads]

We live in a Republic with some democratic institutions. Therefore, Hybrid, no?

That's what I put.

Constitutional Republic with a federalist system of government, where the lower the level the government, the more democratic it is.

But if you're talking what does the Constitution say, then it would be a republic.

[NMB2]

I'm not going to vote or weigh in until we get more votes since I was the creator and obviously want to preach some shit lol

[NMB2]

To clarify further though. I want to know if people know what our Founder Fathers had in mind, how and why our government was setup the way it was, what it was called, what they didn't want.. ect.

Its fairly easy to research, as its a subject that isn't contested like the 2nd amendment is... its just forgotten about, and written over in school textbooks.

[stevelkinevil]

We are supposed to have a Republic. What we have turned it into is a repugnant hybrid of a republic/democracy, with a unconstitutional behind the scenes monarchy mixed in.

[Sharpienads]

We are supposed to have a Republic. What we have turned it into is a repugnant hybrid of a republic/democracy, with a unconstitutional behind the scenes monarchy mixed in.

That's a pretty good answer.

[GilpinGuy]

To clarify further though. I want to know if people know what our Founder Fathers had in mind, how and why our government was setup the way it was, what it was called, what they didn't want.. ect.

Its fairly easy to research, as its a subject that isn't contested like the 2nd amendment is... its just forgotten about, and written over in school textbooks.

Good clarification here.

Well, I think (shooting from memory here) that the Founders envisioned a Federalist Republic. We (the citizens) would elect Representatives to stand up for or represent us. This would prevent a "mob rule" mentality that a true democracy would provide.

The House and the Senate are built the way they are for very good reasons. The Senate has 2 members from each State, regardless of the population of the State. So New York and Wyoming both have the same number of Senators. This prevents the most populous States from over-running the lesser populated States. The House is a bit different. There is a House Member for ever X number of citizens in that State (I forget the number). Therefore, New York has more House Members that Wyoming. This keeps thing in balance, so to speak.

The President is the Commander in Chief. He does not propose, write, or create any law or budget. Those are done by the Senate and House (contrary to public belief). Ok, he submits a budget to Congress, but that's a formality and generally disregarded. Remember when Obama's budget proposal got ZERO votes in the Senate? LOL!

States were visualized as individual...well, States. The "Federal Government" would not interfere with most of a States affairs unless it was deemed a National concern of some kind. Of course this has been totally raped and pillaged by the power hungry in Washington and, these days, States are merely pawns of the Federal Gov. The Fed says "Do THIS or you don't get funding for that" so the States go along...sad.

I said in another post "...some democratic institutions...". For example: The citizens of Colorado just voted to legalize the recreational use of pot. That was a ballot issue and voted on by the citizens....not our elected representatives. Frankly, I'd rather that all changes to the Constitution of the State of Colorado be left to the Representatives. Ballot issued muck up the waters so much and the vast majority of voters are so ill-informed....look at the TABOR fiasco. So sad, that was a great thing. Now it's worthless. Thanks Teachers Unions! Our ballot system messed up a great thing there - in other words democracy failed here.

I'm off topic now....

[bryjcom]

We are a corporate fascist state.

So to answer your question we are "none of the above"

[patrick0685]

we have a radio ad around he asking the same thing

[Teufelhund]

A Republic is what was envisioned by our founding fathers and the intent outlined by the [final draft of the] Articles of the Constitution. The founding fathers railed against a democracy, referring to it as "tyranny of the majority."

An oligarchy is what we actually have. Primarily because we're all a bunch of pussies and haven't taken it back yet.

As a side note, even our founding fathers could not agree on what it should be, even during the time of the framing of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton was a monarchist and actually asked George Washington to be our first King. Thankfully, ol' George refused. Hamilton subsequently dubbed his political party, one of the first two parties, "the Federalist" party, though it was in fact the polar opposite. The other party at the time was then, naturally, dubbed the "Anti-federalist" party, though it did in fact support a Federalist government. Makes sense, right?

[GlockDog47]

We are a corporate fascist state.

So to answer your question we are "none of the above"
I 2nd that... sad but true

[MarkCO]

According to the founding fathers, you don't have the right answer, they framed a representative republic.

[NMB2]

According to the founding fathers, you don't have the right answer, they framed a representative republic.

not wrong.

They framed a Federal Republic. This is stated over and over again in their writings. The Republic includes representatives, so "representative republic" is just redundant.

Now, a lot of people think that because we vote for representatives (representative democracy) it makes our form of government some sort of hybrid. I disagree with this mainly because representative democracy is part of a republican government, and the founders greatly denounced any form of true democracy. It was to keep power away from majority rule, and to make all states equal. Democracy is a little more prevalent on the lower levels of state, but had no place in the Fed.

While saying that we have a representative democracy is not wrong, it has been run rampant with and with my own polling on FB and many other sites (this site and FN Forum fairing the best) found that people think that our country is a Democracy. I can only imagine what would happen if I posted a poll on that liberal forum I was trolling earlier in the week.

I've been opening up a lot of my books lately.... this great pocket book I have is called Essential Liberty:
https://patriotpostshop.com/products/124

I also have copies of all of the federalist papers, the Declaration and Constitution hang in my house.... and I don't meant to get off on a self righteous tangent, but just reading all of these documents, refreshing my brain.... it makes everything around us going on so much clearer and gives me the warm and fuzzies inside.

These are some good links to read also:

http://americanbuilt.us/governments/republic.shtml

http://americanbuilt.us/governments/democracy.shtml

[bogie]

I thought we were living in an autonomous collective.

I am Locutus of Borg...

[NMB2]

My Dad, who is a 22yr retired Army 1SG, got his degree's and started teaching after he got out 10yrs ago. Highschool History.

He said over the last 2-3yrs under Obama the way the education system changed, at least in his field (american history) was absolutely insane. Barely touching on our founding, certainly not allowed to glorify it for what it is... putting a new twist on the civil war period. I remember him telling me "they have already demonized Jefferson through the school system, now they are starting on Lincoln.. and Washington will be next".

Long story short American History in schools has become about civil rights movements, spreading democracy and socialism, demonizing the right, ect.....He refused to teach it their way (had a principal that liked him)... thought it the right way, then quit this last year.

[TFOGGER]

Idiocracy.

[Dave]

I thought we were living in an autonomous collective.

You're fooling yourself, we're living in a dictatorship. A self perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes....

Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. [werdo]

[Sharpienads]

I wish a watery tart would lob a scimitar at me so that I could be king.

[bogie]

I wish a watery tart would lob a scimitar at me so that I could be king.

Lol, agreed. but why a scimitar?

[Sharpienads]

I messed the quote up a bit.

dOOTKA0aGI0

[DSB OUTDOORS]

We are supposed to have a Republic. What we have turned it into is a repugnant hybrid of a republic/democracy, with a unconstitutional behind the scenes monarchy mixed in.
^^^^^ This is the best answer so far IMHO. Well put Steve.