Democracy

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what’s for dinner” ~Benjamin Franklin

Democracy is the great lie, the modern day illusion that convinces people that they are the government. I don’t know many people who live as well as the politicians do with high six-figure salaries, bodyguards, Cadillac health care, flying for free, and pensions for life. The illusion of democracy was a stroke of genius for the ancient Greek politicians who created it. It convinces the people that if the government doesn’t do what they want it to do or if the government abuses them, they have no one to blame but themselves since they are the government. It’s a multiple personality disorder and it’s evident in how politicians disassociate themselves from the government when they talk. Members of Congress, who are part of the government, routinely talk about the government in the third person. The government this and the government that. As if they had nothing to do with the tax increases, the bombing of the Afghanistan wedding, or the arrest of the octogenarian who was feeding the homeless. It was “the people’s will” that did that, the people are the government. That shit is priceless no matter how you slice it. Give credit where credit is due. The state is genius level social engineering.

Although the concept of democracy has existed for over 2000 years, the last two millennia were still riddled with kings and queens, despots and dictates, oligarchies and rulers, socialism, fascism, Nazism, and communism. Each form of government successively convincing the masses that it was the next greatest thing since sliced bread and humanity had to have it for a civilized society. Because this time all of society’s problems would be solved, this time the rich would get theirs, this time the working man would be rewarded. This time, promise.

Like a used car salesman year after year successfully convincing his customers that this year’s model is a must have for the discriminating buyer. Just look how it shines! Those sleek lines, the smooth curves, and all modern features. He hypnotizes with charisma, charm, and sexy buzz words like “fully loaded,” “supple features,” and “no extra charge.” The buyer gets way up in his head, already imagining a future that hasn’t happened yet. The heads he’ll turn with this car. The respect he’ll earn. The chicks he’ll get. Shit, the poor schlep never stood a chance. He’s been looking for the difference maker in his life, the one thing that would change it all—and now he’s found it. When in truth it’s nothing more than just another piece of shit used car all dressed to impress. And a used car doesn’t make the man, it doesn’t earn respect or get the girl—not a girl worth getting anyway. But goddamn if it didn’t seem like a good idea at the time. Rinse and repeat.

Enter the 21st century’s newest used model: constitutional democracy. Just look how it shines! All modern features and a constitution, “no extra charge.” The salesmen hypnotize you with buzz words like freedom and liberty, the people and voting, justice and rights, national pride and exceptionalism. How could anyone not be attracted to that? What are you—a communist?

In theory a constitutional democracy is a democratically elected representative government, but the government is constrained by a constitution. A constitution being the rule of law, the fundamental law defining and limiting government authority. All government legislation should be able to be traced back to its authority in the constitution. In practice a constitution is a piece of paper that has no authority, no rights, and certainly no power to constrain the acts of wicked men.

“But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain—that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case it is unfit to exist.” ~ Lysander Spooner

And where did the constitution come from? God? Magical nymphs? The Big Bang? It was written—in secret—by those it’s meant to constrain: the government. It’s meant to constrain the government that wrote the document that constrains it. I wonder how limited my governing powers would be if I wrote the document limiting my powers. Nice work if you can get it, I suppose.

Consider the fact that the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution, although the Constitution bestows the authority to create the Supreme Court and nowhere bestows the authority to interpret it. How can a document that creates the government also be written by that government limit the power of that government when that same government interprets the document’s meaning? Is your mind blown yet? It should be because it’s all legal mumbo-jumbo, logically contradictory bullshit, never doubt it. The “Mickey Mouse Club” pledge has as much relevance when it comes to the legitimacy of and constraining the power of government.

Some people like to proclaim that a constitutional democracy is really a republic. As if calling it a republic sanitizes it somehow and makes it morally superior. They conveniently ignore that some of the most horrendous government regimes in human history were republics. The USSR was a republic, so was East Germany, as is China and North Korea. Calling it a republic is irrelevant, it’s just lipstick on a pig. Ever wonder why if the role of government is to protect our rights, why a Bill of Rights is needed in the Constitution to protect our rights from the government? I’ll just leave that right there.

In reality the Constitution functions as a convenient political excuse for government actions when needed and it’s ignored altogether when it’s not. It’s just a piece of paper. It does nothing, it has no power, no authority. It grants no authority, it delegates nothing and limits nothing. You know why? Because it's a piece of paper! You know how much power and authority the Constitution has? A child can easily wad it up and throw it away. You know why? Because it's a piece of paper! The Constitution is the illusion that is used to control people and convince them they are responsible for things they had nothing to do with. So if you voted those in power into office and they do bad things then you are responsible; you could have chosen someone else to represent you, but you didn’t. You need to vote better next time. After all, you are the government. Rinse and repeat.