What makes a republic a republic? Is it the leaders, is it the laws, is it the people? I think it’s all three. We have 345 million people in the USA, significantly more than any one of us can comprehend. Quite simply, there are an insurmountable amount of people. But a simple population doesn’t make a country. Having good fair rulers also doesn’t make us a republic, many countries have had good kings or fair oligarchies, at least for a while. We’ve had a rare few governments that have good laws and even rarer ones that treat everyone with respect.
What makes the USA a proper republic is a tripod of all three. One will not stand on its own, but together, they form one of the most sturdy platforms. Our rulers are reigned in by laws and limitations on their power. Without that limitation, we’re not different from a monarchy. As such, it’s important to reign in our leaders and ensure they’re held responsible for their actions. Ensuring they’re not above the law is paramount.
Ensuring justice for everyone is what makes our laws important. If the laws discriminate or target individual factions of people dependent on faith, race, or sex, then that law is failing as a republic. Especially if laws hurt the most vulnerable of people then it’s not a proper republic. Republics represent everyone, especially the poorest.
The last one is where we come in, the people. Republics have elected representatives who represent us, and we elect them. They then make decisions. Electing officials is how we make our voices heard. It’s how the tripod is balanced. It works because every side does its part, and when it doesn’t, we fail as a republic and a country.
Elections are how we control things. So when an election rolls around, that’s where you get a say in the government. Don’t miss it. Elections are won by those who vote. If you don’t vote, you’re giving away your say in the government. You’re allowing the choice to be made by others, you’re forgetting your voice.
If you truly don’t care or know enough about politics to put in 20 minutes of candid research into politicians then perhaps you don’t need to vote, but that’s frankly just a sad way to live. Live your life better.
Every politician should be viewed with scrutiny. Don’t let them evade a critical eye because they’re charismatic, because they look nice, or because you hate their opponent more. Don’t worship your politicians as heroes, very few of them deserve your awe. They make mistakes and many of them do it a lot. Don’t let them escape accountability. While it’s quite rare to get a good person as a politician, power rarely attracts good people, but try to find ones with a moral compass.
Lastly, let your voice be known. Vote, because without your vote, republics wither into the whims of those who do vote, and those aren’t always the best options. Elections are here for choices, let your choice be one that fits right for your heart and emotions, but also very importantly, your mind. Let your vote be filled with reason, but above all, have a vote.
Your vote is how you make our country better on a global scale, it’s how you make America great. The laws and leaders need to do their part, but voting is how you do yours because you can reshape things if you do. It is never too late for a tripod to be rebalanced.
Very well timed article! If people don’t vote or hold leaders accountable to the laws the chair will topple. Likewise, if the leaders don’t do the will of the people, the chair will topple!