The Flaw in American Democracy

The Flaw in American Democracy

We live in a great nation with many liberties and freedoms, yet I would contend that without strong determined leadership of the type which often gets politicians tarnished with the disparaging moniker of "King" or Despotic ruler, our nation is nothing more than a sordid mass of special interests groups trying to get their share of the pot like vultures tearing meat from a carcass. 

Making unpopular decision in America has long been the source of many many problems with our system of democracy. In a popularity contest one inevitably makes sacrifices to retain their position correct?

For instance Franklin D. Roosevelt president leading into World War II showed his desire to support England in her time of peril against the Nazi's in many ways, but as Winston Churchhill put it, Roosevelt was up for re-election and in desiring to avoid looking like a War Monger, limited America's involvement to selling arms and supplies to Britain. 

Dec 2nd 1940 Some 50 Destroyers were transferred to Britain in the "Destroyers for Bases" Deal

How many people died because America's popularity contest discouraged a sitting president from making an unpopular decision?

"King" Obama in recent years avoided going into Syria's civil war,  despite reports of chemical weapons being used on civilians he kept moving the "line in the sand," further back. That country has suffered many many years now because no one wanted to make an unpopular decision. Thank heaven for dictators like Vladimir Putin right? 

Vladinir Putin

No that's is not the point. To go that route would be throwing the baby out with the bath water and completely giving the Founding Father's the proverbial finger. 

So what is the problem with our system? What did the Founding Father's have in mind for American leaders when they crafted the outlines of this great nation? 

Part of the answer I feel is in and understanding of a broad range of American history. I think of John Adams who I consider the first democratically elected president our nation had.

 (You could argue that George Washington really wasn't the first elected president due to the fact that his peers felt like he should have the honor of being the first President due to his achievements in the American Revolution, ergo he really didn't have any competition)

During the Adams administration there was a period when popular pressure to declare war on France was so high, men were marching past Adams willing to volunteer for a war he did not desire. Yet in a political maneuver of sheer brilliance and years of hard word, Adams negotiated continued peace with France while appeasing the popular cry for blood. 

This is not a man who had any fear of opposing popular demand. Or perhaps he had such great fear of it, but being principled enough to resist the temptation to give in to something he felt was not in the best national interests, that he found a clever alternative.  

Readers of history, especially political, may disagree with my view. As Napoleon Bonaparte said, "History is the version of the past that people have decided to agree upon".

Despite your leanings, John Adams intentions are clear in his statement of:  "There is one thing I would like to be remembered for more than anything else. I gave myself the task of making peace with France. And I succeeded."

How does this tie in? To put it bluntly these are men who opposed the popular opinion. They saw what needed to be done and then lent themselves to the task even to the point of committing treason and sentencing themselves to death. 

John Hancock himself in a brilliant move of one upsmanship and to encourage his peers signed the Declaration of Independence to King George with such flourish he became a legend. Signing your name to a document of secession is a very unpopular decision. 

Yet these are the men who framed our Nation. So if you wonder why our nation is having problems ask yourself, do we have in office the caliber of men and women with the fortitude to make unpopular decisions for the good of the nation even should it cost them their lives let alone their position as a Congressman, Senator, Mayor, Governor etc? 

I would content not. And without men and women strong enough to bear the unpopular monikers, principled enough to resist temptations to pander to popular out cry, our nation is doomed. Simply because the framework was developed by men who risked their lives by becoming Traitors in order to be called Patriots.