Many who haven't closely studied Tocqueville's great classic Democracy in America may not be aware
that the title is not a tribute but rather a warning.
Tocqueville was not
congratulating Americans on their great democratic government.
Rather, he was warning Americans that their democratic system would
eventually fail when the majority stopped closely following and influencing
government and instead became only voters rather than real, actively-involved
citizens.
Both Benjamin Franklin and John Adams warned Americans of
the same thing. We have a republic, "if we can keep it." To keep it, we have to
remain the leaders.
The character of the people, Tocqueville warned, is the
determinant of freedom.
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Social Leader Daily by Oliver DeMille
