Republic or Democracy

1
Republic or Democracy

• Are we a Republic or a Democracy?
• This has been debated for the better part of the
  history of our country.
• So what are the differences between the two?

2
REPUBLIC

• A Republic if you can keep it.
• Benjamin Franklin
• A system where the people elect representatives
  who are free to act on their own.
• Based on personal beliefs, conscience, or other
  factors.
• This allows them to do what they think is right
  on our behalf.

3
DEMOCRACY

• A system where the representative is expected to
  obey the mandate of those who elected him/her.
• This pertains to all levels of government i.e.
  district, state, and nation.
• This is regardless of what their personal
  opinions or beliefs are.

4
THEN and NOW

• Needless to say there is a radical difference
  between what the founding fathers believed and
  what is going on today.
• Old ideas were based on centuries ideas where
  people would elect the most educated and wisest
  among them

5
THEN and NOW

• These representatives would use their wisdom and
  education in the best interest of their
  constituents
• This was due to the fact that those represented
  were less wise and further away from the center
  of government and details of government.

6
CLOSER TO TODAY

• As people become better educated and better
  methods of communication allowed more immediate
  access to information our influence has become
  more important.
• Although framers of the Constitution believed in
  a Republic we have morphed into a Democracy.
• This is due to our elected officials citing they
  are working on the desires of their constituents
  desires.

7
The Reality of the Matter

• Our Representatives have acted on their own and
  many times in their own best interest.
• Abortion, gun control, term limits and
  congressional pay raises to list but a few
• This has lead to a re-awakening of the Republic
  spirit

8
Where Does This Fit

• A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year
  uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.
• A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year
  uses 480 gallons a year.  
• So, the average "Cash for Clunkers" transaction
  will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320
  gallons per year.  
• They claim 700,000 vehicles so that's 224
  million gallons / year.
• That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of
  oil.        

9
SOOOOOOO!

• 5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day's
  US consumption.
• And, 5 million barrels of oil costs about
  350 million dollars at 70/bbl.
• So, we all contributed to spending 3 billion to
  save 350 million. 
• How good a deal was that ???