Reader comments are listed below. Comments are currently closed and new comments are no longer being accepted.
The fact is that the United States was NEVER intended to be a democracy. Rather, it was intended to be a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, with the central (federal) government having very few and limited powers; and the States having all other powers not delegated to the central government in the Constitution. Even Alexander Hamilton, arguing in the Federalist Papers that a "Bill of Rights" was NOT needed, wrote that the Federal Government could NEVER exercise any power or authority that was not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution.
Of course, the federal government has greatly expanded its powers, at the expense of the States and the People. But the most fundamental principle of any written constitution is that government CANNOT do whatever it chooses! The U.S. never was intended to be, never was and is still NOT a democracy.
"The powers delegated by the Constitution to the federal government are FEW and DEFINED [explicitly stated within the Constitution]. Those which remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The powers reserved to the States will extend to all the objects which concern the lives, liberties and properties of the people." James Madison
"No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid." Alexander Hamilton
"Do not separate text [of the Constitution] from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government." James Madison
Ninth Amendment (Bill of Rights)– "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the People."
Tenth Amendment – "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People."
“The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy. One’s right to life, liberty and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly may NOT be submitted to vote; they depend on no elections.” Robert H. Jackson, Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
"The particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written constitutions, that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void." (John Marshall, Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, Marbury v. Madison)
"On every question of construction (interpretation) [of the Constitution] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or intended against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." Thomas Jefferson
"If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an AMENDMENT in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be NO change by usurpation [“power grabs”]; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed." George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
The Economist may not be aware of this, but the Webbys are widely understood to be a "Who's Who in Middle School" promotional scam.
I haven't heard of "Webbys" in ages. It's like 1999 all over again. No offense to the blogger.
Subscribe to The Economist's free e-mail newsletters and alerts.
Subscribe to The Economist's latest article postings on Twitter
See a selection of The Economist's articles, events, topical videos and debates on Facebook.