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Stegiel's avatar

Aristocrats, Ray. Aristotle favored Aristocrats. Aristocracy, in theory, is the next-best constitution after monarchy (because the ruling minority will be the best-qualified to rule), but in practice Aristotle preferred a kind of constitutional democracy, for what he called “polity” is a state in which rich and poor respect each other’s rights and the best-qualified citizens rule with the consent of all.

We tend to think of our Founders in light of legendary history of this nation as quasi-Aristocrats. And many were. As was the creation of Federal power to favor the merchant class and landholders. An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States argues that the structure of the Constitution of the United States was motivated primarily by the personal financial interests of the Founding Fathers. Beard contends that the authors of The Federalist Papers represented an interest group themselves. More specifically, Beard contends that the Constitutional Convention was attended by, and the Constitution was therefore written by, a "cohesive" elite seeking to protect its personal property (especially federal bonds) and economic standing. Beard examined the occupations and property holdings of the members of the convention from tax and census records, contemporaneous news accounts, and biographical sources, demonstrating the degree to which each stood to benefit from various Constitutional provisions. Beard pointed out, for example, that George Washington was the wealthiest landowner in the country, and had provided significant funding towards the American Revolution. Beard traces the Constitutional guarantee that the newly formed nation would pay its debts to the desire of Washington and similarly situated lenders to have their costs refunded.

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Fran's avatar

I wish more people understood the difference between a Democracy and a Constitutional Republic. But I have to agree with your comments on where we are currently at. Welfare was abused to the Nth degree. Probably designed that way as everything "they" create has an ulterior goal, and its not for the good of the people. Stealing from the working to give to the non-working who'll never contribute to society. Why should they? I also wish people understood that the government doesn't produce a damn thing, other than problems. What sickens me most is when any politician claims they will tax the rich. Never seen that happen in my lifetime. Its long past the time of quenching the Tree of Liberty. Allowing anyone who wants to inhabit our country for freebies is a major, major mistake. More burden on us tax payers. If only these illegals knew they're next on the kill list.

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