"Republican" does not mean "decentralized"

[Politruk]

One occasionally hears the phrase, "The United States is a republic, not a democracy." What this means -- when it means anything at all -- is, "The U.S. is a federal state, not a unitary state."

That is a non-sequitur. Republican government has nothing whatsoever to do with federal/decentralized government. There is no connection between the two, none at all.

France has a unitary system of government. Germany has a federal system. France is just as good a republic.

The U.S. is a democratic republic. As opposed to an aristocratic republic, like the old Republic of Venice, where only the nobility of the Golden Book could vote.

 

[Politruk]

xxxx

 

[Saint_Ann]

yyyy

 

[Philthy_Phil]

Shut the fuck up.

 

[Politruk]

xxxx

 

[Politruk]

This "a republic, not a democracy" line has come up most recently in connection with abortion. The implication being, it's cool, and perfectly American, if some states allow abortion and some ban it.

People tend to forget, now, that in the 1950s and '60s, it was employed in defense of Jim Crow. "States' rights," and all that.

 

[Politruk]

xxxx

 

[Politruk]

Abortion, for instance. Of course there is no good reason why abortion should be left to the states. It's not one thing in New York and a different thing in Texas.

 

[ll74]

This is a stupid thread

 

[Politruk]

This is a stupid thread

Centralized vs. decentralized government is a pretty important subject for political discussion.

 

[ll74]

Centralized vs. decentralized government is a pretty important subject for political discussion.

I get that you believe that this thread is worthwhile.

It is not.

 

[UltraChad]

Abortion, for instance. Of course there is no good reason why abortion should be left to the states.

Of course there is...there is no federal regulation on it. Anything not regulated federally is up to the states. A totally rational way for a federalized system to work.

Why should abortion be made a federal issue?

 

[LLCox]

It's the kiss My Ring trump party. Repukes had nothing to do with the win.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Everyone here understands how the US Constitution works. Nice of Politruk to let us all know he’s catching on.