Blaine Young Blasts Democracy at Naturalization Ceremony

There is no universally agreed upon definition of democracy, but most Americans intuitively understand what is meant by the word. Freedom, fairness, equality, popular sovereignty are some of the things that come immediately to mind when someone uses the term.
Several years ago, at a voter registration training session, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett told those of us assembled that democracy is nothing but 'mob rule'.
This past Saturday, President of the Frederick Board of County Commissioners Blaine Young spoke at the swearing in ceremony of America's newest citizens. In his prepared remarks, Young roared from the dais, 'thank god we do not live in a democracy', that we live in, not a democracy but a republic. He went on to explain that he does not want to be dictated to by 'the majority'.
What is going on here?
I'm old enough to remember being told that the United States is the greatest country in the world precisely because of our 'democracy'. Over the 235 years of this 'republic' there has been significant struggle for democratic rights. Women and minorities have marched, petitioned, bled, fought, and died for the right to have their views and desires recognized. A country founded on the principle that only wealthy, white, male, land owners could have a voice in the governing of the republic has moved slowly toward a democracy. The history of the violence and vehement opposition against this movement over that time is terrible to recall.
To be sure, there is much that is wrong with our 'republic' and our 'democracy'. Our electoral system is based on an anti-democratic plurality voting system of 'winner-take-all'. It is worse than a 'tyranny of the majority' in that representatives are often elected with a less than majority of the vote, making it a 'minority rule' system in many cases. The wealthy, both as individuals as well as through their giant, unaccountable corporations, finance candidates and political campaigns, control the media, the political discussion and debate, and the election process itself. Once elected, representatives very often appear to represent that tiny minority of wealth that financed them rather than the people who elected them.

We must take care to not allow this discussion to take place as the Right defines it. We must make it clear: this is NOT an issue of republic vs democracy.
More and more people opt out of the electoral process, voting districts become larger, and those who vote for losing candidates feel their views are not represented. This is not a problem caused by democracy but a crisis of us losing what little democracy we have.
As is so often the case, the Right takes a simple-minded approach to defining critical issues. Slogans like 'we live in a republic not a democracy' attempt to equate two different things; like asking someone if they walk to work or bring their lunch. The Right also implies by that simple statement that all our problems will be solved if we just abandon democracy. It may be tempting to embrace simplistic and vague platitudes as solutions, but in the end, it solves nothing.
The real solution to what is wrong with American politics is not this vague appeal to restore a republic (that does not need restoring), but realistic changes that bring more, real democracy to our representative form of government.
First, public financing of political campaigns is essential. The privileged elite, and the corporations they control cannot be permitted to determine the nature of the debate or the outcome of our elections.
All restrictions on the formation and participation of 'alternative' political parties must be removed. We cannot have democracy, that is a free sharing of ideas and policies when some of those ideas are deemed less valid than others. The notion that all Americans must conform to the ideology of the establishment political dogma is an absurdity that must not only be challenged, but done away with forever.
Finally, we must have an electoral system that treats all parties democratically, that is fairly and equally. Every voter's voice must be heard and every voter's choice must be respected.
That is what democracy is. And there is nothing wrong with it.