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Muttling -> RE: I Attempt to Lead a Coworker to Christ (1/12/2008 9:57:16 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Zensee
Sorry I was a bit scattershot.
The Greeks and Romans had forms of it (for males, land owners, ex military etc.) but not a universal franchise. I can't speak for Americans but it seems that most western style states are some sort of blend of republic(an) and democratic principles and practices. Most have rule of law, which is an alleged republican virtue, and all have elections, which is a democratic mechanism. The precise difference between a democracy and a republic, at least in the opinions I have seen offered, seems more a matter of semantic preference than political reality.
Anyway, the following is the bit I was thinking of, from the recesses of my fuddled memory.
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_democracy
quote:
Historian Jack Weatherford asserts that Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and others, got their ideas on democracy not from any Greek or Roman influence, but from the Iroquois and other indigenous peoples of the Americas, who practiced the type of democracy found in the United States Constitution, through self-governing territories that were part of a larger whole. This democracy was founded between the years 1000-1450, and lasted several hundred years. He also states that American democracy was continually changed and improved by the influence of Native Americans throughout North America. For example, the right of women to vote started on the American frontier, and moved eastward. In other words, Americans learned democracy from the indigenous peoples of the North America.
Got change for a nickle?
Z.
American rule is a MASSIVE hodge podge of ideas and ideals. The best example of this is the supreme court building which includes monuments commemorating the origins of our laws (not so much the origins of our constitution though) Christian Canon law, Hindu law, Bhudist law, and Confucian law are included to name only a few. I am certain that our system has American Indian influences just as it has influence from the country of India.
HOWEVER, the primary foundation for the design of the over all system of governance was definitely Ancient Rome. Just look to the architecture of our capital buildings and the methods of procedure on the floor of our House n Senate.
Our governance is a melting pot just as our people are. The Ancient Romans designed the pot in which we have melted the best parts of other systems together.
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