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Good wake-up call Darwin. Some of us still believe in the process. -----Original Message----- From: Hawkins, Darwin <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Friday, December 18, 1998 1:04 PM Subject: NON PD - - -Re: SAVE DEMOCRACY NOW >ONLY THING THAT CAN BE SAVED IS THE REPUBLIC!! > >In reference to the extremely long post from > >Wojtek Dworak <[log in to unmask]>, > >where numerous references were made to our democracy and the will of the >people and the public polls that do not support impeachment, >I would add the following extremely long comments to a previous post of >mine! > >RE- Impeachment & Signoff > >- - -(a portion of my previous post)- - - > >First of all, let me say that I have my own personal opinion about whether >President Clinton should be impeached, but my personal opinion doesn't >matter in the scheme of things. What matters is that we are a Republic, not >a Democracy. For those of you who don't know the difference, here is a short >explanation: > >Only in a Democracy does the majority rule. In a Republic, representatives >are elected to conduct the affairs of government using whatever knowledge >and ethics they have and their conduct is governed by the Constitution and >the laws of the land. The concept that the majority can be wrong has been >demonstrated many times in history and the founding fathers recognized this >to the point that even the electoral college was created and given the power >to override a popular (majority) vote. So it means nothing to me what the >polls show one way or the other. The process that is going on is dictated by >our Constitution, and I believe it is the most precious (next to the texts >brought together in the Bible) document every created. It is not for the >people to decide by polls and surveys, it is for Congress to decide as our >duly elected representatives. > >To those that think our country is going to come to a complete standstill >and that the outcome is going to affect our health care, I say this. During >the serious and severe trials of WWII we lost a president, but the country >didn't collapse. Our resilience as a country is much more than most people >give credit for. That just shows you what a great country we have and that >our forefathers really did create the most fantastic system of government >ever on this earth. Will our health care suffer? I don't know, and frankly I >don't care. If the Constitutional process is not followed, then I can >practically guarantee our health care will eventually suffer, if not in our >lifetime, then in our children's. > >My comments would be exactly the same regardless of who the president was or >how great (or awful) he was perceived to be. No one man is responsible for >all the changes (for good or bad) that take place during his (or her) >administration. Should have absolutely nothing to do with following >Constitutional law regardless of where it takes you. Our very freedom to >even do what we do on this list depends on the sanctity of that document. > >- - - >Here are my additional thoughts: > >I used to think as many of you still do that we were a Democracy. This was >and can be extremely frustrating. It was only when I truly understood that >we are a Republic and understood the significance of why the founding >fathers invented that form of government (we were the first and only one >that has ever been), that all the frustration and agonizing went away. > >Our form of government was not created by a majority vote of the people. A >few men with an unbelievable dream brought it into existence via our basic >Constitution. It was so perfect that more learned men and women than you or >I have brought forth only a few additional amendments over the years as >times and experience has required. Even with the amendments, it was not a >majority vote of the people that adopted them, it was by 2/3 majority of 3/4 >of our State Legislatures (where, by the way, we also have the Republic form >of government, not a Democracy!). I could even go so far as to say it (the >Constitution) may have been divinely inspired. > >The Constitution does not give the option of censure! It must be amended >before we will have that option. >If in trying to uphold and comply with our Constitution, the nation is >paralyzed for months, then it isn't worth the paper it is written on. >Congress has no choice, partisan or non-partisan notwithstanding, but to >comply with the Constitutionally mandated process, because the process does >matter. > >Yes, I do most certainly agree that anyone's actions outside the courtroom >and grandjury are private matters. >But, if a person stands up and takes an oath to "uphold and defend the >Constitution and the Laws of the United States of America" or takes another >oath to "tell the truth, tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth", >and it appears they did not do one or both, then let the chips fall where >they may. That includes you and me and them! > >Finally, we, the people, do not have a vote on impeachment. Majority does >not necessarily rule in a Republic. Again, the recorded history of the world >shows the wisdom of our forefathers in realizing the majority can sometimes >be wrong. The only remedy for the majority is to elect competent >representatives with a platform that represents your views, but even then, >they can change their minds (politicians do make unfulfilled promises) or be >diluted by the checks and balances of having an opposition party to contend >with. Can you imagine the chaos that would occur (daily? weekly? monthly?, >yearly?) if, we, the people, tried to rule ourselves by majority opinion? > >Oh, one more thing to challenge your thinking, be you Republican or >Democrat, Liberal or Conservative, voter or non-voter, whatever and with >respect to bi-partisanship versus partisanship. Would you want all three >branches of our government 100% populated by the same party? Even your >party? > >THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS NOT A DEMOCRACY, IT IS A REPUBLIC, THANK >GOD!!!!!! > >Sorry this was so long. Helps me sleep better at night! Otherwise, stuff >just keeps rattling around in my head, and that gets real noisy! > >Love to all, >Darwin