Technotranscendence wrote:
>
> On 03 Oct 2001, 12:13:02 PM J. R. Molloy jr@shasta.com wrote:
> >> Down With Democracy by Hans-Hermann Hoppe
> >> from http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/hermann-hoppe2.html
> >
> > Yes, democracy sucks. That's why we Americans should be glad we live in a
> > Republic rather than a democracy.
>
> I'm not sure how that's any different from Hoppe's usage of the term. To
> him, I believe, there's no difference between a democracy and a republic --
> at least, not at this level of analysis.
>
> What are the important/relevant differences between them in this context?
> Do these speak against Hoppe's claims -- many of which seem based on the
> American example. (E.g., affirmative action.)
Democracy has no checks and balances against the tyranny of the
majority. Republics acknowledge Barnum's Law: "You can fool all the
people some of the time" and insulate against it.
Parliamentary systems are democracies, especially where there is no
written and supermajority controlled constitution.
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