We Are A Republic Not A Democracy

The story goes that Benjamin Franklin was standing outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia after the constitutional convention had ended. A lady walked up and asked the great man, "Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Ben Franklin thought about it briefly and responded, "a republic, if you can keep it."
And so began the greatest experiment in governance ever undertaken. The republic Ben Franklin feared for, has lasted 220 years and is still going strong. Yes, it is presently being sorely tested but it is still intact and I believe will remain that way far into the future. The sad thing, is that many people in this country, don't even know what a republic is, much less that they live in one. Many people will tell you that the United States is a Democracy. While there are elements of Democracy woven into the fabric of our country, it is absolutely not a Democracy in the strictest sense. James Madison wrote in the Federalist Paper No. 10, "Hence it is that democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. A republic, by which I mean a government in which a scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect and promises the cure for which we are seeking."
In other words a democracy allows for mob rule where the majority always gets their way. If the majority votes to take away your land, you lose your land. If the majority votes to outlaw your business, you lose your business. It's that simple and this is what Madison was referring to when he talked about a democracy being "incompatible with the rights of property." The founders were well aware that a democracy will eventually implode as the majority votes themselves largess from the treasury and special privileges. This is why they set the country up as a representative republic.
I stated before that there are elements of Democracy woven into the fabric of our country and this is true to the extent that our representatives are elected by majority vote (electoral college notwithstanding). The kicker is that these representatives, once voted in, represent everybody including those that did not vote for them. If you did not vote for your representative you can still approach him or her seeking redress of a grievance or simply to make your views known. With a republic, you avoid the problems inherent in a true democracy by making sure that everybody has representation and not simply the majority.

America Is Not Happy With The Country's Direction By Don Potter Diamond Quality Author

Nearly 70% of US citizens are dissatisfied with the federal government's size and the power it wields. And 7 out of 10 adults surveyed believe the moral and ethical climate of the country is wrong, which represents a seismic attitudinal shift in less than a decade.
The Gallup organization first asked questions about the following topics in early 2001. Over the past ten years, the pollster asked questions about several aspects of American life. These included quality of life, effectiveness of government and the system, moral and ethical climate, individual opportunities to succeed through hard work, attitudes toward big business and the influence of religion.
In 2001, the numbers for federal government and how it works were the direct opposite from the poll taken earlier this year. Then, only 30% were dissatisfied with the size, influence and workings of government. The highest positives were recorded in early 2002, just a few months after the 9/11 attacks, when 76% indicated their satisfaction.
By contrast, this year only 29% of respondents indicated satisfaction with the size and influence of big business in their lives. Dissatisfaction was 67% The best ranking for major corporations was 50% satisfaction in 2002.
Better than half, 55%, of those surveyed said they were satisfied with an individual's opportunity to pursue the American dream and get ahead through hard work. The dissatisfaction level was 44%. As recent a 2008 satisfaction was 68% and dissatisfaction was 31%. Satisfaction was at 76% a decade ago.
Overall, 8 in 10 Americans are generally satisfied with the quality of their life, although this is declined by 6% over the past 2 years. Satisfaction with the influence of organized religion started the decade at 61%, spiked at 69% the next year and is now at 58%.
The moral and ethical climate in the country experienced large swings with the highest decade-long positive level registered in 2002 when 47% were satisfied compared to just 30% today.
With the public unhappy with big government and big business, they seem more reliant on themselves and on their individual faith to accomplish positive goals in the months and years ahead. This may explain why, with negative feelings about the moral and ethical climate of the times, an overwhelming number of Americans are still satisfied with their quality of life.
Now, we must do the things needed to accomplish worthwhile goals. As we do this, let us take the time to share our good works with others. Hopefully, they will do the same. And before we know it, America will be back on the right track. This will take us beyond petty political squabbling or worrying about what others have and put us in the position working together while reaching for our personal dreams.

Don Potter is a Philadelphia native and 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement and frequently writes and speaks on marketing issues. Potter is the founder and editor-in-chief of NewSeniors.com, the first online magazine dedicated to those 65+.

Elections Have Consequences

The Democrats lost the recent election in Wisconsin and are complaining that the Republicans, now in power, are not being fair in dealing with the teacher's union. This brings to mind the situation in Washington a little over a year ago when the Democrats, the majority, refused to let the Republicans make changes in the proposed health care legislation. Both situations can be summarized succinctly, "We won, you lost."
The health care debate is being revisited in Congress because the power has shifted in the House. During the initial framing of the bill, neither of the parties walked out and hid from voting on the bill, even though the outcome was apparent to both sides of the aisle. There was plenty of verbalizing but no mass exodus. The decision to run away from their responsibilities by the 14 Wisconsin state senators is not only poor judgment, it is downright cowardly. Unfortunately, a similar walkout occurred in Indiana as well.
Imagine if one party, at the local, state or federal level, simply walked out whenever it did not get its way. The people's business would grind to a halt. We have a representative form of government in the United States. As Civics class taught us, our system operates as a republic not a direct democracy. This means we entrust those we elect to vote on our behalf while giving consideration to all their constituents. It works this way regardless of the balance of power between the political parties.
Therefore, our views do not translate directly in to votes. This is the job of our representatives. If we don't like the way they represent us, the politicians can be voted out when their term is up. Or, if the citizens are really upset, recall actions can be taken. However, it is important to remember that the next person elected to the office may not always vote the way you wish, either.
About half the electorate is going to be less than pleased with the outcome of any vote. Nonetheless, we rarely organize protest rallies and demonstrate on the streets. There are exceptions. Health care brought out the people across the country. Public opinion was against passing it. Today, public opinion is for repealing or drastically changing it. More than half the states are suing the government while a federal judge has declared the law unconstitutional. And the House has voted to repeal the bill. In spite of this opposition, implementation is moving ahead because the bill had enough votes to win.
The legislators in Wisconsin, Indiana and other battleground states must accept the fact that the results of elections determine who has the most votes. And, until someone changes the rules, the majority of the votes in a legislative body determines which bills become law and which ones do not. A loss does not mean the bill can't be revised and brought back. Or, a shift in power can easily resurrect once dead legislation.
It's time for the run-a-way legislators should go back to work. Those thinking this is a good way to delay things should consider the consequences. In the meantime, we can take the actions needed to get our representative to listen to us. It's the American way.

Don Potter is a Philadelphia native and 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement and frequently writes and speaks on marketing issues. Potter is the founder and editor-in-chief of NewSeniors.com, the first online magazine dedicated to those 65+.

President Obama Signs the Dodd Frank Reform Bill and a New Consumer Protection Agency Will Be Formed

The "Dodd-Frank" reform bill was recently signed by President Obama. The "Dodd-Frank" reform bill sets up a Federal Consumer Protection agency that oversees credit, credit/debit cards, consumer loans, payday loans and credit reporting agencies. It will regulate fees and lending practices.
American Financial Institutions will now be required to consider a borrowers income and job status in addition to their credit history.
This is exciting news because irresponsible lending and borrowing was one large contributor to the US financial crisis.
It is exciting because we have long advocated for financial reform and government should be playing a larger role to protect Americans but also to educate them.
You can have a good credit score but still be in financial crisis. Job loss, failed businesses and divorce are just a few things that can lead to financial crisis. When financial crisis erupts, your credit is one of many things that could be impacted.
The American government's move to require that banks consider an applicant's job status and income in addition to a credit score will result in loans not being made to consumers who really should not be borrowing money.
Naturally if you lose your job or are in a financial crunch, the first thing you will be tempted to turn to is your credit. This move will make doing so harder because if you are not working or don't have enough income, you have will have a more difficult time obtaining credit. This is a good thing, this protects you.
If you are in financial crisis, the last thing you should do it turn to credit and the first thing you should do is look for other options. This could force you to have to make tough decisions like downsizing or scaling back on your budget. This could also involve turning to family for help.

Why Unions Are Still Needed Today

As we are approaching the one hundredth anniversary of what many believe to be the true beginnings of labor unions, there are many people today that have come to blame unions in many cases for some of our economic woes. These people state that he unions have gotten too powerful, and far too greedy. However, a real evaluation of the situation indicates that unions are certainly still needed today, and that workers still need representation.
On Saturday afternoon, March 25, 1911, the largest single tragedy in the history of New York City (until the horrors of the 9-11 World Trade Center attack) occurred. At about 4:40 PM on that date, a fire broke out on the middle of the three upper floors of a building in the Washington Square section of New York, that housed the Triangle Shirt Waist Company. One hundred forty six people, predominantly Italian and Jewish immigrant women and girls, perished in this industrial disaster. The exposure, grief, and publicity, as well as the ensuing protests, garnered public support for mandatory safety measures to protect workers. The incredibly low pay, long work weeks (averaging six 14 hour days), and substandard conditions, as well as a lack of even minimal safety standards, were amongst the many findings discovered after this catastrophe. After that, unions such as the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) gained clout and credibility, defending and demanding the rights of workers to be paid a living wage and safety, as well as some security and basic rights.
One might say that these conditions no longer exist, so why are unions needed today. There are many political implications that one could discuss, but the basic moral and ethical reason is to prevent the "haves" from abusing and taking advantage of the "have nots," and that workers be given some sort of "safety net." In the past year, we have witnessed in parts of the world (and remember, in our multinational society, what occurs in one place impacts others) killed in fires in a fire in Malaysia, mine collapses, and extremely low salaries paid in "sweat shops" that supply manufacturers of products sold in the United States. Large retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Target, JCPenny, H&M, and others, continue to purchase products manufactured under these circumstances. Many large companies "outsource" much of their manufacturing outside the country, and thus the low quality of the conditions directly impacts us in this country. There is probably a considerable correlation between some of our unemployment rate and the increase in outsourcing.
Have some unions acted unreasonably at times? There is no doubt about that, but remember that companies negotiate with these unions, and better communication, and better "fair" treatment of workers would probably alleviate some of the "power" of these out of control situations. However, simply because there are some "bad apples," does not mean that workers do not need protections and representation. We are also experiencing situations where state governments are attempting to reconcile their state's economic woes on the backs of their municipal workers, and using them as scapegoats, and proposing eliminating even their right to collective bargaining. They are representing this as being fiscally necessary, but we must recognize that while states can and should evaluate how many workers they need, they should not be able to make the decision unilaterally. Even from a "numbers" point of view, what happens if states have massive layoffs? Wouldn't that end up with even higher unemployment figures?
What we need is a return to responsible unions that represent workers needs, negotiate in their best behalf, but work in a spirit of greater cooperation. Creating a polarization and blaming unions for everything is certainly unproductive!

California County Creates Building Incentives

Six years ago, the San Benito County, California Board of Supervisors approved an affordable housing ordinance that required new housing developments to include a certain percentage of affordable units. Unfortunately, the ordinance didn't produce the Board's desired affect. Developers weren't persuaded to include more affordable units in their projects, choosing instead to pay a fee for excluding the below-market-rate units. Now, the Board has approved a new ordinance that it hopes will be more effective.
The new ordinance offers incentives for builders to include affordable units, rather than simply requiring that they be built. Higher density allotments and additional development credits are just two of the benefits offered. In addition, developers will be allowed to build multi-unit complexes in areas currently zoned for single-family residences. Developments that include affordable housing will also be processed quicker, according to the new ordinance.
San Benito County Supervisor Margie Barrios said the new ordinance was needed because the previous, percentage-based, ordinance wasn't working. Developers need to receive some kind of benefit if they're going to include affordable units in their projects. Simply requiring the units to be built, with no incentive or benefit to the developer, is not effective, as proven by the previous housing policy.
Barrios believes the new ordinance contains the right balance of flexibility and structure, meeting the needs of both the community and developers. She hopes it will help the County meet an increased demand for low-income housing. She calls the balance a "new focus and different method for smart growth." More details are available via San Benito County's Housing & Economic Division.

Maliki in Action, Positive Effects of Protest

With protests heating up across Iraq, Prime Minister Maliki is giving his cabinet members 100 days to shape up or ship out. Iraqi citizens are protesting the lack of reliable electricity, dearth of jobs and unclean water. While many protests across the Middle East are demanding regime changes, Iraqi citizens are demanding reform. Maliki is responding to these protests and taking the steps to communicate to the citizens that he is listening and action will be taken. While the situation is tense, these protests for reform could be constructive for Iraq and possibly the Iraqi dinar
Iraq has come a long way. Iraq has democratically elected its leaders and now is staging protests for reform - not revolution. Iraqi citizens have seen what it means for their voices to be heard and are now uniting their voices to demand more out of their government. And it appears that Maliki is listening. While no major changes have been made, Maliki has shown that he is willing to take immediate action to push Iraq forward. Maliki cut his pay in half, provided free electricity and has allocated more money for food ration programs. In addition, he has set his 100 day rule to ensure that every cabinet member is pushing for improvement in Iraq. It remains to be seen how this rule plays out, but all parties involved must realize that major change will not occur overnight. Creating more jobs, reliable electricity and clean water all require infrastructure and investment that will take time to come to fruition.
The Iraqi protests could accelerate the major reforms Maliki has vowed to fulfill. Iraq has invested in infrastructure to bring about these major changes - money to build a better electric grid and facilitating foreign investment to create more jobs. However, pressure needs to be put on these projects to make sure they are fulfilled in a timely matter. This is what these protests could accomplish - that would a constructive protest. Maliki must continue to show that he is listening and take concrete steps to back his words with action. On the other side, Iraqi citizens must keep the government accountable by speaking up, but they also must realize that these reforms will take time and once they come to fruition, Iraq will be a better place.
While these protests make it a tenuous time in Iraq, in the future, they could have beneficial effects for the dinar. The process of change or reform is never easy or smooth. However, it is through that process countries move forward and are able to provide for its people. Iraqi citizens are using their voices to demand change. Iraq has an opportunity to show that they are capable of responding to their citizens and restoring order and confidence. This is exactly what the dinar needs. The dinar needs more confidence in order for it to rise in value. While amidst these uncertainties, some may be wary, but the result of these protests could go a long way in showing how far Iraq and the dinar have come.