America: A Town Square Democracy

Two historic democracies debuted in the late 18th century. One was terrible, the other terrific. *

The French Revolutionaries decapitated democracy with their guillotine during the Reign of Terror, thus giving Napoleon an opening to replace the short-lived republic with a monarchy. Emperor Napoleon, like his imperial predecessors, ruled from the high castle and looked down on his subjects.

On the other hand, America's first president George Washington governed---not ruled--- from the street-level town square, figuratively speaking. He had to work with Congress which held the power of the purse. Likewise for his successors.

Power shared is power limited. Everyone has to play the check-and-balance game. Frankly, this isn't a very efficient system. Still, it is effective enough to keep our unique republic going and growing.

In short, America is a town square democracy. It has stood the test of time. If history is any guide, this town square democracy will go on riding out future storms, one way or another.


Author: renqiulan

* Terrific but far from perfect, our democracy is always a work in progress. 

 

沙发。巧了，我正好在线。秋兰，晚上好。：））

Power shared is power limited. Good point.

We need town square democracy.

sometimes history repeats itself in somewhere.

无巧不成话。感谢盈盈！

It is common sense here. Elsewhere? Not so much.

We're living in a town square democracy, however

imperfect it is.

Point taken. Thank you, 卫宁! Would you be kind enough to

elaborate on the context for a start?

Bipartisanship between GOP and the Democratic Party is

prominent feature of the American political system,

which lead to political deadlock and challenges in achieving

consensus. This reflects the diversity in the states.

There are still authoritarian dictatorships in the world

The democratic process is quite messy. So many conflicting

interests are involved. Everyone fights to bring bacon home.

So many hands want to be greased. At the end of the day,

though, by hook or by crook, we manage to

muddle through. Bottom line, a successful democracy

lets everyone live to fight another day.

Last century same thing happened in China , Yuan Shikai

replaced the short-lived republic with a monarchy shortly.

We can only do so much. Just make sure that

we won't get blindsided again.

公元2023年之二次袁？：）

True. Thank you again!

此二元一次方程有解乎？：））

The tide of history cannot be turned.

Goodnight, guys!

有解乎，无解乎？李中堂云，天在做，人在看。：）

Indeed. The Democratic Party consists of a diverse range of

perspectives and conflicting interests.

和秋兰聊天，能学到好多地道的美语表达。谢谢你！比如：

Everyone fights to bring bacon home.

So many hands want to be greased.

by hook or by crook, we manage to muddle through.

Goodnight. ：））

Nice share, 秋兰！

Is town hall meeting related with town square democracy? :)

秋兰好。Thanks for sharing. I'm a little concerned about

a slow metamorphosis of the town square itself...

盈盈周日早安！哪里呢？平常心，平常语；游观世，坐论世，如此而已。

I would say, political leverages make things happen---

good or bad. Whoever has the mandate also has the final say.

My reading of history is that ingenuity makes history.

I don't know about the "nice" part. I only know the " share"

part. That’s good enough for me. 谢谢小西，周日早安！

Indeed, town hall meetings are town square...

democracy in action. Of course, social media is the ultimate

town hall. At least, that's the case in this part of

the world. Words mean something here.

唐宋韵周日早安！I didn't quite catch your point. My apologies!

Perhaps, you might want to put "metamorphosis" in a context.

Then let's take it from there. Many thanks!

Couldn’t agree more “let everyone live to fight another day”

Thank you, 碼農學寫字! We have a living Constitution, which means

we have to guard against regression all the time.

Foe better or worse,any form of democracy is still democracy

Sorry 没有说清楚。我是说我感到美国民主的土壤在变化，因为人口构成、社会思潮、持久和平等因素导致的逐渐变化。

Democracy in name or in substance? That's the question.

Well, I beg to differ. I grew up in the one that you may

Call Democracy in name, however many tiny steps put Taiwan

Where she is today.