A Republic, if you can keep it
Apocrypha phantoms
Hustle flung at your plugged ears
Wretched refuse numbed
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NOTES:
TITLE:
When asked what form of government the delegates at the Constitutional Convention had created, Benjamin Franklin famously responded with "A republic, if you can keep it," implying that the success of the republic depended on the active participation and responsibility of its citizens.
Franklin's statement established the new nation as a republic, a form of government where power ultimately resides in the people, exercised through elected representatives.
* "If you can keep it":
This phrase highlights the fragility of a republic and the critical role of citizen vigilance in maintaining its principles. Franklin was cautioning that a republic is not guaranteed, but requires active involvement and commitment from the people.
* Active participation and responsibility:
The phrase emphasizes that a republic requires a citizenry that is informed, engaged, and willing to defend their rights and freedoms. It suggests that without this active participation, the republic could be at risk of becoming something else—perhaps a tyranny or an authoritarian state.
* Context:
Franklin's response was given after the Constitutional Convention concluded in 1787. He was emphasizing the importance of a system of checks and balances within the government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. He also understood the need for an engaged populace to hold their elected officials accountable.
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PLUTOCRACY ~ A country or society governed by the wealthy.
An elite or ruling class of people whose power derives from their wealth.
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"IF YOU DON'T VOTE, YOU DON'T MATTER!" ~ Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long
[By Google ~ Generative A.I.]
Copyright © Robert Warlov | Year Posted 2025
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