General Discussion

Laelth

(32,017 posts)

32. Agreed, in principle.

Sun Oct 6, 2013, 07:25 AM

Oct 2013

I would simply suggest that Republics tend to be oligarchies.

That's what history suggests:

The Roman Republic
The Republic of Venice (the longest-lasting republic in the planet's history)
The Republic of Ragusa (a very cool little republic that lasted for over 500 years and was an early ally of the fledgling United States)

These are all oligarchies. Take a look at this picture and tell me we're not looking at a good number of our nation's early oligarchs:

We may not like oligarchy, in principle, but we may be fooling ourselves if we believe that the U.S. hasn't always been one. And every oligarchy, it seems, wants an empire.

-Laelth

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Political scientist predicted that the American system of government was unstable and would collapse [View all] Cali_Democrat Oct 2013 OP

Thank you. I was unaware of Linz, and this Jackpine Radical Oct 2013 #1

When Reason And Politics Fail - Terrorism Prevails cantbeserious Oct 2013 #2

Wow. K&R nt riderinthestorm Oct 2013 #3

One good reform would be a national standard for redistricting bhikkhu Oct 2013 #4

Nah, it would actually be S A D Benton D Struckcheon Oct 2013 #5

Smart people have been known to be ridiculously wrong Pretzel_Warrior Oct 2013 #6

The parliamentary system has one huge advantage Cali_Democrat Oct 2013 #8

True, but that can also be a disadvantage Pretzel_Warrior Oct 2013 #10

Yes. It can be very unstable -- as in Greece. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #20

Which doesn't help much if no one party wins a majority Kaleva Oct 2013 #11

Parliamentary systems have minor flaws compared to presidential systems starroute Oct 2013 #14

Sad but true. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #21

Rereading my own post, I think the question of legitimate authority explains a lot starroute Oct 2013 #26

+1. n/t Laelth Oct 2013 #31

I like your sig bumper sticker tavalon Oct 2013 #27

For a long period of our nation's history, a minority ruled this nation. Kaleva Oct 2013 #40

This is why Obama must stand strong... Barack_America Oct 2013 #7

If they balk on the debt limit AAO Oct 2013 #16

I agree with the characterization of the Constitution. randome Oct 2013 #9

somebody had to say it Chaco Dundee Oct 2013 #15

I couldn't disagree more. Octafish Oct 2013 #34

No it has terminal functional problems. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #38

No. You're wrong. Octafish Oct 2013 #41

Stable governments alternate between an oligarchy and an emperor FarCenter Oct 2013 #12

As we once were tavalon Oct 2013 #28

Agreed, in principle. Laelth Oct 2013 #32

Fuck that, its basic greed on behalf of the GOP! Rebellious Republican Oct 2013 #13

thank you, Cali Cha Oct 2013 #17

Moderate Republicans in the House can change this situation right away. JDPriestly Oct 2013 #18

My answer to your question. Laelth Oct 2013 #35

This would work until the mid-terms I would guess. cui bono Oct 2013 #43

Powerful read. K&R nt riderinthestorm Oct 2013 #19

And this is no small country... defacto7 Oct 2013 #22

Powerful final sentences!! young_at_heart Oct 2013 #23

+1. n/t Laelth Oct 2013 #36

"The power struggle will be resolved as a pure contest of willpower." Jim Warren Oct 2013 #24

And public shaming tavalon Oct 2013 #25

If we fail, it won't be due to a power struggle between branches ThoughtCriminal Oct 2013 #29

Interesting. Thanks for posting. k&r n/t Laelth Oct 2013 #30

He might have been right if the US had a democracy, we don't. bahrbearian Oct 2013 #33

One that might do Mussolini proud except for the trains and planes that do no run/fly indepat Oct 2013 #45

the 14th amendment. Obama can pull that out, can he not? magical thyme Oct 2013 #37

How many parliamentary systems were actually stable? Progressive dog Oct 2013 #39

K&R oxymoron Oct 2013 #42

May the President exert such forceful willpower that Rethuglicans go crawling back to their states/ indepat Oct 2013 #44