The Difference Between a Democracy and a Republic | 5 Minute Video

[@samuelasnake3234]

I'm Ethiopian🇪🇹 and I live in Ethiopia. The more I learn about the founding fathers of the U.S., the more I'm amazed. They were way ahead of their time.

[@YohielSpeaks]

In fact, the original US Constitution and Bill of Rights, the way I understand it, were designed very much after beliefs and doctrines from the Cherokee Nation.

[@jimmay1988]

​@@YohielSpeaks More so of the Iroquois Confederation.

[@YohielSpeaks]

@@jimmay1988 Aho!

[@thunkjunk]

On the Cherokee Nation Website it states: The Cherokee Nation adopted a Constitution that was modeled after the US Constitution in 1827.

[@glasshalffull2930]

They were truly amazing men. I’m not sure we have anyone alive today that are anywhere close to their abilities.

[@effwardangerston8034]

Wish more people today understood the beauty of a Constitutional Republic.

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

Rule by the lowest common denominator is STILL rule by the lowest common denominator.

[@johnk2452]

Wish that more Americans would understand the beauty of our DOI --- our FUNDAMENTAL American Principles --- from which our Fed Constitution was derived.

[@EbonyBunny1]

How can they. For over 100 years all we do is give lip service to the constitution and no longer follow it.

[@EbonyBunny1]

@@Uqwefsdjxsa Why do you believe in Constitutional Monarchism? Why would you give control of your life to someone that just happened to be born into a wealthy family? Why would you bestow wealth and power to people who, by just the luck of being born, control your life and curtail your freedoms from no merit of their own.

[@EbonyBunny1]

@@Uqwefsdjxsa So you are talking monarchy as just a figure head, for social functions. As apposed to an actual monarch that is ruler of their country. All I am saying is why would the general public bestow upon someone wealth, when from no merit of their own other than simply being born. That is not the same if your parents are wealthy and they give you money. But, why should people go to work, pay taxes and for no reason give their hard earned money to someone that never earned a damn thing. Like the royal family in England. Why? Why should they lead a jet set life when the only thing they have to do in life is breathe. For doing absolutely nothing, people go out of their way to kiss their asses and give them money.

[@ronaldgartner3700]

This needs to be a public service broadcast.

[@theresapeller9873]

💯

[@PatMcKittrickIsThatGuy]

It was. And required public education among 50 states (somehow?!) until democrats made a national ed department. 😐

[@Thewoowooguru]

Agreed, but Unfortunately the people in power benefit from the American people staying ignorant.

[@melissaculpepper7663]

The truth does not matter to those hell-bent on their wicked schemes.

[@melissaculpepper7663]

“WE THE PEOPLE”!!!

[@brodyhagemeier9356]

Great clarification! "A republic, if you can keep it."

[@ksphotographer8815]

You couldn´t…

[@ladyprudence6]

Let's not forget Nazi Germany, the USSR, communist China are all republics.

[@robhart6042]

@@ladyprudence6 "so-called" Republics, at the FAKE level.

[@keithjohnston5422]

@@ladyprudence6 Eh Stalin/Hitler/Mao were all dictators. They may say they are republics but history seems to counter that.>ALOT

[@arttellama2408]

​@@ladyprudence6peoples republic only by title. Communist/ socialist is deceiving. They dont have the constitution like yours.

[@josephreynoldsii5048]

That's why in the Pledge of Allegiance, we say, "and to the Republic, for which it stands".

[@normalabbie]

Unfortunately the pledge of allegiance is not only not practiced in most schools anymore, it's prohibited and denounced as raaaacist & other such nonsense.

[@MalcontentFlower]

@@normalabbie Source?

[@i.marchand4655]

The pledge also says the nation is "indivisible" - and that's in jeopardy of late, as well.

[@MalcontentFlower]

@pilanceboil Locally, it's still pretty present, at least in Arkansas. A quick search just finds articles that claim that forcing students to recite the pledge is unconstitutional, so I was just curious if there were any.

[@lutherloser5122]

@@MalcontentFlower theres a school I know that has their kids stop doing the pledge

[@citomp1240]

I get sick of hearing the media say "our democracy". Like it's theirs and theirs alone. We have a Republic.

[@-WiseGuy-]

No, actually, we have a FASCIST OLIGARCHY pretending to be a Republic. Ever heard of this concept called 'paying attention'??🤦‍♂

[@dalmac5978]

The media is correct. You’re confused.

[@tomasinbaker2181]

The Dems like to confuse the people.

[@furtadogerrior]

Do like I do, type all in caps in the comments of anyone who mentions we are a democracy "WE ARE A REPUBLIC"!. Especially those in government who preach democracy. I also type "In a democracy we all loose" . Sometimes I even type the entire pledge of allegiance to the flag. I think they are trying to turn us into a democracy to lead us into abolishing the constitution turning this great country socialist. God please help all of us with a brain save this country.

[@Alec_Cox]

​@@-WiseGuy-😂🤣 🤣 🤣 The US CONSTITUTION is the law of our Country, hence the separation of powers. You my friend are Constitutionally illiterate

[@jyu467]

The founders wanted a government of moderation. They wanted a democratic component to the government (House of Representatives) but not a democracy, they wanted an aristocratic component (Senate) but not an aristocracy, they wanted a monarchial component but not a monarchy. The House was meant to be the voice of the people. Before the 17th amendment, the Senate was not a democratic body and was meant to be a body of elder statesman. The executive was to enforce the law, not create them. The founders created this government of moderation because they knew tyranny came in all forms. Tyranny can come from one person like a king or dictator, tyranny can come from the privileged few like an oligarchy, and tyranny can come from the majority trampling on the rights of the minority.

[@_Breakdown]

Well summarized. Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what’s for dinner.

[@sv3931]

*Restore the Republic* •Repeal the 17th •Term Limits for all 3 branches •Balanced Budget Amendment!

[@johnsoutherland3403]

@@sv3931 above all get rid of all these alphabet agencies that have no constitutional legitimacy. Federal bureau of investigation. The Federal bureau of alcohol tobacco and firearms, and others.

[@allismama]

Tyranny like the democratic party is doing now.

[@sv3931]

@@johnsoutherland3403 They have put together *7* federal agencies to investigate domestic terrorists: parents who attend school board meetings .. if parents crimes are not federal, the agencies will "assist" the states in prosecuting parents for non-federal crimes.... I don't know if we need to can the alphabets...or do the unheard of: actually prosecute the heads for constitutional violations ..

[@12Bsure]

I'm 74 years old and just now understand the United States as a constitutional republic. The electoral college is so important to prevent large population centers like California and New York deciding our fate without considering 2/3 of the United States . This is a simplistic explanation but you get the idea ! Thank you Robert...

[@TheWallReports]

This gives a more deeper understanding to B. Franklin statement, “A democracy is two wolves & lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.” There is no liberty (freedom from coercion/force/threat) in a democracy bc the individual and/or minority is under constant fear of tyranny from the majority. Especially if that minority possess hard earned wealth. Legalized theft (confiscation) is always just a democratic vote away.

[@mrsaye499]

not without its flaws. To be a member of the electoral college, you must be a landowner. I have watched many citizens be forced from their land, one way or the other. It seems that real esate is being acquired more and more by fewer and fewer hands. I see a slow game of monopoly being played. This is a problem in itself but when combined with the rules of belonging to the electoral college and the large role that lobbyists and donors play in our 'republic's' political process, the republican walls the Founding Fathers built don't seem so trustworthy.

[@csabaszakolczai]

@@TheWallReports You're not talking about a Republic; you're talking about an oligarchy.

[@TheWallReports]

​@@csabaszakolczai No sir. I am speaking specifically to what the Founding Fathers describe as a republic in Federalist Papers #10. It states: The two great points of difference btw a democracy & a republic are: 1st, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest... The other point of difference is, the greater number of citizens & extent of territory which may be brought within the compass of a republican than of a democratic government. To summarize, when a country/population group is small a democratic government maybe is feasible. But as the population & territory grows a democracy is unworkable. The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work & give to those who would not --Thomas Jefferson Democracy ...wastes, exhausts & murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide --John Adams Democracy is the most vile form of government... democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulance & contention... incompatible w/personal security/the rights of property. --James Madison The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength &... breaks up the foundation of a society. --Thomas Jefferson. Umm... the majority oppressing the minority does not seem like a oligarchy to me.

[@gordogenero5762]

Especially since most of the food and manufacturing and nukes are in empty states. lol

[@huejass3]

I'm from Canada and your founding fathers were absolute geniuses. I can honestly say your constitution is the envy of the world, and the country it allowed to manifest with all its opportunities is nothing short of inspirational. Never forget the sheer amount of people who risk their lives every day just to step foot on American soil.

[@tracybarhite1764]

Thank you! I agree our Founding Father's were brilliant.

[@MalcontentFlower]

Ah, the joy of Poe's Law.

[@cesaryaelmurillo4367]

I'm from Mexico and I can't agree more! Long live the USA!!!!

[@kallaji7383]

True words!

[@kallaji7383]

@@MalcontentFlower What? Care to explain?

[@robertg3592]

This should be played at the Democratic Convention.

[@roboparks]

Corporations hate the Constitution.

[@rainydaysunnylife5718]

And the republican convention as well, since they seem to lean towards an autocracy or even a dictatorship.

[@lucrtrvl]

@@rainydaysunnylife5718Republicans didn’t open the borders and invited unvetted hordes of stray people into “sanctuary” states and cities giving them benefits and housing on backs of hard working Americans. Republicans do not want non-citizens to have a right to vote. Democrats are for non-citizens voting. Democrats ousted officially elected candidate Biden from presidential campaign and replaced him with unelected candidate Harris. Who is a dictatorship here?

[@bigb2707]

​@rainydaysunnylife5718 you spelt having a candidate that nobody voted for wrong. that's an oligarchy

[@DB45677]

@@rainydaysunnylife5718disagree. Dictators don’t typically want you to keep your guns, steal less of your money, and reduce their power (i.e., the size of the federal government). On the other hand, dictators do the opposite. Like the Democrats, in case you couldn’t put it together.

[@Dube7666]

Republic is for ALL the people, and democracy for the majority.

[@valeriebreathet741]

You can have a healthy democratic constitutional monarchy! You can have a healthy democratic constitutional republic! Unhealthy constitutional republics also exist, because DEMOCRACY is missing! Examples of this last category include Russia, China, North Korea and Hungary!!!

[@rosaravello4275]

Reasons why the Democrats want to save it! But we live in a republic! They want to convince us of otherwise for their own power. Not today!

[@lyndaniel3369]

The Founding Fathers saw many people who neither believed in God, moral good, or justice, and would sell their vote for a beer if we had a democracy. They wanted people to elect an educated, God-fearing, and Honest representative who would meet with other representatives and discuss whether proposed laws were good for the whole country or represented a greedy minority, and what were the consequences of such a law (something people ignore nowadays----CONSEQUENCES, which always come whether you think of them or not.)

[@valeriebreathet741]

@@lyndaniel3369 Find a better definition of democracy than this! Frankly, you don’t know enough! Look at other developed countries which have healthy democracies! When the United States came into existence, the Founding Fathers would have known only about the histories of Ancient Greece and Rome. Many of the Founding Fathers were Deists! Consider the varieties of Christianity even in the 18th century! Besides, freedom of religion is written into the first amendment!

[@williamchiafos3889]

Democracy today isn't true democracy. It's mob rule

[@numberoneduchess]

When I was in school, back in the dark ages, each classroom had a large American flag standing in a corner. Before any other business was brought up, everyone stood facing the flag. We placed our right hand over our heart and said these words: ............... "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." ............... These words should be spoken every day by every American citizen, even if said in silence until they become part of your life.

[@mrsaye499]

Mistake #1: pledging allegiance to an inanimate object.

[@georgerease7539]

my thoughts exactly

[@georgerease7539]

i agree numberoneduchess

[@joehouse3800]

I'm 61 years old, and I am proud of our Flag for what it Represents!!! And yes they should have kept the Pledge of Allegiance in school!! We are a Constitutional Republic ❤❤❤

[@carolmclean812]

Yes! And a prayer. Worst mistake they made (started all this crap) taking prayer out if public schools. But that's just MY opinion.

[@donnalayton6876]

I wish more of our youth understood our Constitution and how our government functioned. Thank you for a program that needs to be heard by every citizen.

[@privateconfidential4775]

A Democracy would be better; the rights of the masses should outweigh the rights of the isolated millionaire

[@numberoneduchess]

The teachers today are too busy trying to teach children how to be good little Socialists instead of reading, writing, and Arithmetic.

[@gemelindacjp7976]

​@mellocello187 I don't want New York and California choosing the President.

[@gemelindacjp7976]

​@@privateconfidential4775 A pure democracy is mob rule where the rights of the one are ignored.

[@sr2291]

@@gemelindacjp7976 So now you have swing states choosing the president. One man one vote

[@nicholasmarino1733]

Hi, there are a lot of Americans who DO NOT know about this fact. It is not completely taught in school. Excellent explanation!!!!

[@jcpana060959]

There are many Americans, maybe even most, that are very ignorant about many things, unfortunately.

[@rhondawilliams8155]

Did they teach this in school???

[@sreed7637]

Well anyone who actually listens to the pledge of Allegiance should know we are a republic. “ … and to the republic for which it stands…”

[@mrsaye499]

@@sreed7637 not necessarily. It says AND to the republic, as if it were something else entirely. I pledge allegiance to the FLAG of the U.S. of America AND to the republic for which it STANDS. There's no lesson here to be gleaned. Any connection has likely not been explained in the majority of schools. Based on this part alone, it says you are pledging to a flag AND to a republic which is separate from the United States, but is also connected to the flag. smh

[@lynettepalecek3141]

​@@rhondawilliams8155They did, but I don't think that they do now.

[@NancyFord-yt2nu]

Keep this video out there....people need to understand we are a Constitutional Republic!!

[@HaroldBrice]

Yes Nancy, we MUST prevent the TYRANNY of the Majority.

[@cgross82]

AOC needs to watch this video!

[@garand1911]

it would only confuse her

[@fastted9390]

I have a better idea for her.

[@ninaharper6282]

It would do no good for her. She already has her mind made up(at least what she might call her mind).

[@LarryGarcia-p3j]

Wouldn't do any good. She doesn't understand anything.

[@romyhezser7630]

It would be pointless as she probably wouldn't understand anything..........

[@cmonkey63]

"... if you can keep it." Wise words for out time.

[@lyndaniel3369]

The wording doesn't sound like Benjamin Franklin, even though he was known for his constant comments in a humorous vein. He also wanted the national bird to be the turkey----but everyone else chose the eagle.

[@timothyjones5959]

Awesome. I’m 69 years old and I’ve never had it explained to me so clearly & succinctly as it was in this video just what the distinction is between a republic and a pure democracy.

[@darenrrful]

that's because it isnt said clearly-- he lied

[@michaeljohn7398]

How about you do another interesting talk on how and why the Collegiate System is so easily manipulated and corruptible to favor s select few. Cheers from Michael. Australia.

[@oldtimefarmboy617]

@@michaeljohn7398 Collegiate System? Are you speaking about what has come to be called the "electoral college?" Which is a process not a place.

[@timhuson4800]

I agree with one of the commenters below. George is wrong. He is equivocating on the word "democracy." By standard usage of the term, the US is absolutely a democracy. It isn't a direct democracy (none such exist today), what Madison called a "pure democracy," stipulating his usage in a few pages of the Federalist Papers. But Madison was founder, along with Jefferson, of the Democratic-Republican Party, and in the twentieth century became known as the father of American democracy. That is not by accident. We do have the world's leading democracy, or did until recently. From it's introduction in the 1570s, the term democracy meant "government by the people, system of government in which the sovereign power is vested in the people as a whole exercising power directly or by elected officials." Yes, that is the US. It is also a republic, a term that largely overlaps with democracy, but one can make stipulative differences, and there is one clear difference, a republic specifically does not have royalty, whereas democracy is usually a broader in this sense and can include, in some cases, a constitutional monarchy. So yes, the US is a democracy (except that globalists corporations have eroded that to a great extent recently). The Republican party is more democratic, not less, than today's Democratic party. Don't let the names fool you.

[@sheshotjfk8375]

@@timhuson4800 Yes. You are absolutely right. I never thought I would see such poor information put out by Prager U.

[@philipspencer1834]

That is the clearest description I have ever heard of the system of government in the US. Thank you Sir! 😎👍

[@dianehill4019]

Love the Dennis!

[@capotegabriel]

Trump = Putin = Biden = Stalin. Vote Haley on GOP primaries and Kennedy Jr. for President.

[@Barbara-jn2gw]

capotegabriel. trump sure does equal Putin,

[@gregpierquet5818]

No new wars under Trump, peace in the middle east under Trump. Damn him.

[@LoudAngryJerk]

except it misrepresents the nature of what a republic is. A republic, which is a system by which we elect representatives meant to engage on the behalf of their constituents, has another name. You know what it is? It's a **Representative Democracy**' A constitutional republic is just a representative democracy whose basis in law is dictated by a document agreed upon by the representatives, and by extension, their constituents. Saying "America isn't a democracy, it's a republic" is like saying "that's not a fish, it's a european sea-bass" A

[@averyjones721]

I legitimately did not know this difference! Such an ESSENTIAL understanding to have about America. I am grateful for now knowing this! God bless and Thank you. We do not live in a Democracy/Pure Democracy, we live in a Republic! And for Great Reason! Thank you Prager U and Professor Robert George!

[@teri1588]

I’m a 68 year old American and have never quite understood how our government works. I’m fairly intelligent, as many are whom also have never quite grasped how our government operates. This explanation is very clear and informative. This should video needs to be shared until all Americans see it. Thank you! 🇺🇸

[@jacquevanlopeznoroff8827]

Holy smoke! I didn’t know we still had reasonable, logic-based, historically sound professors at the Ivy League schools! Get him!

[@zgobermn6895]

Quickly before he spreads his venom to young minds! 😂

[@Armygirlsdad]

When an Ivy League Constitutional Law professor declares people don't need to understand the Constitution or the positions of those who wrote it, it is very clear that Constitutional Law professors at the supposed highest level of learning have absolutely ZERO understanding of the Constitution and absolutely ZERO desire to understand the Constitution, while they work feverishly to undermine the Constitution with every single act they take.

[@seanarnold8980]

Armygirl... uhhh who said that? Because I think you might just be lying or accidentally misrepresenting what someone said.

[@seanarnold8980]

Quickly though... it is true that conservatives banned an entire school of thought from even being mentioned in public schools: Critical race theory... which is literally just looking at how racism gets baked into laws throughout history like the Jim Crow Laws... so conservatives basically banned talking about Jim Crow Laws which is a part of our US history... So much for free speech and the marketplace of ideas...

[@seanarnold8980]

It's like they say... those who control the past now, control the future. Those who control the present now, control the past. And conservatives control the present and they really want to rewrite the past...

[@VictorAvera]

I"ll stay with the Constitutional Republic.

[@ronelltofte1665]

I was born when my country was still part of the British Empire. By the time I got married it had become a Republic. Now it is a Democracy with all the "ailments" that comes with being one. I think a Republic is the best system for a diverse population. Thank you PRAGER U for this simple explanation which I can share with my grandchildren.

[@ZeroBoostBuick]

I'm not American nor do I live in the USA. And I think this video is excellent.

[@tentigers99]

The way it was taught to me as a child was the bicycle situation where one guy owns a bike but 5 others say it's theirs because they have 5 ppl. Because the democrat way would be the majority rules, a Constitutional Republic protects the rights of the one true owner. Individuals rights

[@Xtjiggzs]

Ironically many Americans don’t appreciate what they have

[@jonus4390]

All except the part where it says the United States of America is not a democracy.

[@ryanelliot5225]

Honestly, I learned a lot watching this. Great video!

[@WebberAerialImaging]

Doesn't it infuriate you that this was not taught in school?

[@quadstar4382]

PragerU is scientifically propaganda, so I feel sorry for you.

[@jbrown8274]

You just wanted to say something demeaning didn't you and you really didn't understand the video more likely you didn't watch it but you knew because well someone else told you so that this must be propaganda because well they would never tell you how to think incorrectly maybe Lee maybe just maybe here's an idea pull your head out of your ass and I'll start thinking for yourself what yourself what in this video was propaganda where was the lie in it ?

[@franklinbrown2753]

A pure democracy is 3 wolves and 1 sheep voting on whats for dinner. But in a republic the sheep still has rights. Thats the best way I've heard to describe the difference between a republic and a pure democracy.

[@spartan2188]

@@quadstar4382Wrong. What left wing schools teach is propaganda. PragerU teaches actual facts. Have some common sense man.

[@BladeStar-uq6xe]

I used to go around and around with my parents, telling them that we were a Republic and NOT a Democracy! They stubbornly believed that we were a Democracy until they died. They couldn't fathom that a Democracy was a Lynch Mob!

[@privateconfidential4775]

A Democracy would be better; the rights of the masses should outweigh the rights of the isolated millionaire

[@richhahn2443]

The US is both a democracy and a republic, a democratic republic. What we are not is a pure democracy.

[@shawdowclone]

​@privateconfidential4775 how about the isolated poor? Migrants? Race or gender? How about the overall idea that the masses agree with has been manipulated to the point that it is believable? Tyranny would evolve and the destruction of the nation.

[@shilltop1060]

Party over country! Vote 💙 Harris for President of United States of America 🇺🇸 Vote 💙💙💙💙💙

[@mooreoftammie]

@@privateconfidential4775 this video explains why you would not want a pure democracy-mob rule: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHuopo2oq7OMnZIsi=Q7sYHcZctls-C6K9

[@marksamuelsen2750]

Our Founding Fathers were Very Smart Men.

[@TheMooncoin]

Oh yeah? So why is the US in the shit state it's in? This glorified electoral college is the reason Trump gained power in the first place. The electoral college has nothing to do with anything other than geography.

[@sdozer1990]

"We have a republic and we should keep it"

[@barryhaley7430]

Yes, a Democratic Republic. One of the forms of democracy.

[@LuuuGheeTrebuchet]

..Troll'Tard .. OLD WORLD ODOR FascismRule .. Economic 'Caste System' .. SH_T Theater Kleptocrat, Plutocrat, Kakistocracy Marionette Muppets Of OLD EuroVatican Ordered .. Dolt.

[@user-zu5do6ri6r]

We currently have neither.

[@jamesedward9306]

@@user-zu5do6ri6r By all means, enlighten us keyboard warrior. Share your magnificent wisdom with the commoners.

[@paulmartin2348]

Just read the comments. Keeping the Republic our founding fathers gave us requires strong, informed citizens. Read the comments, (even just the ones to your own statement) and you will clearly see why this country is doomed.

[@bison9364]

Thank you! I am amazed by our founding fathers’ wisdom!

[@tom-kz9pb]

Yes, like Thomas Jefferson opining that the story of Virgin Mary would one day take its place in mythology with the story of Minerva springing from the head of Jupiter. Conservative heads would explode over that tidbit, but they would secretly love Ben Franklin for saying that America should be reserved for the "beautiful white" and not the "sons of Africa". For the sake of the latter objective, maybe our wise Founding Fathers blew it by owning so many slaves and not anticipating the unforeseen consequences. On the other hand a "mythical past" of "greatness" is a bulwark of fascist ideology.

[@GGNH1234]

This video is complete BS. Letting Wyoming be "overrepresented" in the Senate has nothing to do with being a republic or democracy. Saying "America is republic, not a democracy" is like saying "this is an apple, not a fruit". An alternative to a constitutional republic is a constitutional MONARCHY (like United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Japan 🇯🇵 , and several Scandinavian countries, etc. ). The difference is very simple: Monarchies do not have a president. They have monarch, a king or queen, who is not democratic elected. In a democratic republic the president IS democratic elected. In a democratic monarchy, the monarch does not have any power but is more symbolic, whereas in a democratic republic like America, the president has a lot of power. The truth is that America is BOTH a democracy AND a republic.

[@sr2291]

@@GGNH1234 Lol Most PragerU videos are complete BS.

[@marcokite]

well as James Madison worked his slaves from dawn to dusk 6 days a week he had time to think about stuff. hard on his suffering slaves though?

[@sr2291]

@@marcokite How many slaves did James Madison own?

[@CDKAZ0688]

This should be taught in school; i know personally, I was never taught about our politics in this country. It’s We The People, but the average citizen doesn’t understand their power.

[@EbonyBunny1]

It used to be taught in schools. I went back to college recently for another degree. I'm not even 42, so I'm not that old. I was shocked when I went back to school how ill-informed the students were. They knew nothing about history. Literally nothing about government. I mean literally nothing. They never heard of the Articles of the Confederation, our original constitution, or the original presidents before Washington. The foreign exchange students knew a LOT more about American history & government then the American kids knew.

[@sfoster4874]

Truer words were never spoken! Now if we could just get them informed on how express themselves peacefully and legally!

[@mikemcgown6362]

this goes back to 1980 when I was in 9th grade. We had a new teacher for our Civics class and he was overwhelmed with questions. I was in Boy Scouts then (in a good troop) and I had a good understanding of how the government worked so Mr. Phillips asked if I could help explain things to the other students. It was truly an honor for me. So to this day, when someone seems confused about government operations I give them honest, unbiased information.

[@flyingtime5501]

that's because that power is being removed...almost complete...gave you looked outside or had a run in with an officer of the law? they think the law is do what they say n get angry when you speak of having any rights!

[@MP-in4or]

And that was the idea. Knowledge is power. They don't want you to have power. Its harder to control you.

[@daviddavid9837]

When I grew up, all through school, the phrase we heard was that we are a sovereign nation of sovereign states. That's how that phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance was explained: "...and to the republic for which it stands..." We are a republic, a sovereign nation of sovereign states.

[@theresaherman]

Old man here. I’m so in awe of the wisdom of our founding fathers! They thought of so many things, political landmines, so to speak, to guide their posterity. They had to be inspired by GOD to come up with all these great documents. We owe them a tremendous debt, because of them, America is great!

[@forbaldo1]

I just wrote something like what you wrote (one month later) I am very happy an Australian thinks a lot like an American

[@aaa7189]

The founding fathers were inspired by GOD through fervent prayer

[@robertpolanco1973]

@@aaa7189 - Well, the founding fathers only THINK that they were inspired by some imaginary being called "god" through pointless fervent prayer, and with no proof of it, they did create the U.S. Constitution and other documents anyway! Furthermore, with the way the U.S. has been so divided as ever from the 20th Century and beyond, the Constitution has also proven to be even so imperfect as well.

[@ziraprod6090]

they never thought the government would become so large - or be allowed to become so large.

[@MinisterRedPill]

No, they were NOT inspired by God and most of them were not even Christians. At least, not a protestant Christian.

[@billburchfield8425]

I hope we can keep it.

[@cynthiagravett2419]

Yup 😮

[@theophrastus3.056]

This should be broadcast once a week on all the major media.

[@shawnxd45]

Totally agree

[@a8f235]

Yes, but sadly hell will freeze over before that happens...

[@dankoston2904]

That will never happen. The media is owned by enemies of America.

[@johngallagher912]

The author is comparing a republic to a pure democracy. A pure democracy doesn't exist anywhere except maybe in very small villages. A representative democracy is the exact same thing as a republic. The US is both a constitutional representative democracy and a constitutional republic. They mean the same thing.

[@theophrastus3.056]

@@johngallagher912 Representative democracies without constitutional guarantees of individual rights do exist. So are entirely fake representative democracies where the legislatures are just rubber stamps. Fake constitutions are also common. You added in a constitution, implying that was somehow a given in other republics and representative democracies besides ours. It’s not. The attempt to allow any majority party to act as if it had unbridled power without constitutional restraint is what’s worrisome. Winning an election does have consequences. Trampling the loser’s rights entirely shouldn’t be one of them. That’s what a constitution is supposed to prohibit.

[@daisys8052]

What a breath of fresh air you bring to the KZbin videos on politics! Only a professor can do that. Suave and sober personality, and informed, precise interpretation of politics. Thanks.

[@pamharris2961]

This video needs to be sent to every politician today and future politicians! They have no idea of how our government should be run!

[@bicyclist2]

We aren't a Republic any more. We are an Oligarchy.

[@mikeyob4271]

Well said friend AMEN.

[@keithdomin5015]

Especially AOC

[@NN-sj9fg]

Posting things like this caused my account on Facebook to be disabled. One more example of mob rule.

[@randymaylowski2485]

Exactly ma'am but the thing is the government doesn't care it's just ganna do whatever it wants, history shows it what I mean of "history shows it "? I mean government's in other countries and even this one in America will do and take whatever it wants to take from its own citizenss especially when it comes with big government. For example back in 19 late 70s early 80s the government took a farm that's been in business since the civil war. Which comes down to only way to fix it is to have a revolution against the government, which hate to say it but some point of time it's ganna happen, just about other countries has done it before now it's us. I hope that never happens hope for a revival not another revolution. But that's my opinion I guess.

[@deadalready7467]

I enjoy these Prager U videos so much. 5 minutes, only facts. Nice little refreshers.

[@kaltwies]

It’s been said that in a democracy you have the privilege of electing your rulers, but in a republic you have the right to elect your servants.

[@DGollp]

China is a republic. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were republics. This wholesale rejection of democracy on the right right now is not just concerning. It is absolutely unacceptable. Democracy is non-negotiable.

[@kaltwies]

@@DGollp Just because a nation calls themselves republics doesn’t mean they actually are. Look up the etymology of the words to get a better understanding of what they mean. America is a union of 50 individual republics. In a true republic you elect/hire servants and grant them authority to handle the People’s public business and the servants are forbidden to interfere in the a People’s private affairs, hence the word re/public, the public thing. A democracy is basically mob/majority rule and thus the minority doesn’t have any rights. It’s 2 wolves and 1 sheep voting on what’s for dinner. Article 4 Section 4 of the federal constitution says: Text of Section 4: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence Kentucky Bill of Rights section 2 gives what I believe is a excellent explanation of what a republic is or better yet isn’t: Text of Section 2: Absolute and arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.[1] America is not nor will it ever been a democracy. Democracy has been wholeheartedly rejected from the beginning. The idea that we are is a fabrication of the left/establishment/deepstate; which consists of both the democrat and republican parties, and a outright lie. Btw the fact that the parties call themselves by those names has no relation to what the words actually mean. A little extra word study for ya, Grant: : to agree to do, give, or allow (something asked for or hoped for)

[@عليريسؤينا]

You've been lied to

[@fallendown8828]

@Ethnic Nationalist says an ethnic nationalist lol

[@fallendown8828]

@Ethnic Nationalist wha- what? I am confused with that come back, i am no flat earther and my pp is Terraformed Mars and my name is name of a music in a game so i am extremely confused how you though i am a flat earther

[@danv965]

Constitutional republic keeps everything balanced.

[@sscalercourtney5486]

So can a Constitutional Democracy if you accept the meanings of the two words as put out by the Greeks over 2,500 years ago and accepted until conservatives changed their meaning back after the rise of Communism. For 2,500 years Republic meant in the West, that you had to have a qualification, like owning property, to vote. While Democracy meant every legal citizen could vote. Again, it's not how people view government I'm discussing. It's I'm bothered that after a couple of thousand years some people took it on themselves to change the long understood meaning of the two words. I am astounded by so many suggesting you can't have a Constitutional, Representative Democracy with a Bill of Rights. Why not? Just me, just my opinion, but I'm guessing those saying we are a Constitutional Republican all vote Republican. And most saying we are a Constitutional Democracy all vote Democratic. But people, for over 2,300 years before there was a Republican or a Democratic Party in America people in Europe used the words Republic and Democracy as the Greeks did. Entirely to define if beyond being a special quality, (like owning property) could you vote. Or were we a society were merely being a legal citizen was qualification to vote? They used those word long before their were Republican and Democratic parties in the US. They have nothing to do with the names of the two parties for 2,400 years. Just concerned over changing the meaning of the words . Not a comment on political approaches to governing.

[@ajarivas72]

@@sscalercourtney5486 In the Greek democracy only the top richest people had the right to vote 🗳. Eastern Germany and North Korea was/is officially Democratic Republics. Democratic Republic of Germany. Democratic Republic of Korea. In other words Democracy = Communism

[@davideller341]

Yeah, our government is so wonderfully balanced that Republicans lose the presidential vote and still get to be president. Would you be equally happy if positions were reversed and Democrats won with a minority?

[@jeffbayne15]

You think we've achieved "Balance"?

[@davideller341]

@@jeffbayne15 Balance between what? The branches of government? The Republicans, even before Trump, have been aggressively undermining the legislative and judicial branches, while stacking the judiciary with party loyalists. Between the parties? There has never been "balance" between the parties, and Republicans want to permanently marginalize Democrats while ruling as a minority party. Between the elected government and will of the people? The current system guarantees that that will not happen, as an unrepresentative Senate and unrepresentative presidents (Bush II and Trump did not win the popular vote) rule even though they are not the choice of the people. What does "balance" even mean?

[@mkosmala1309]

As another commenter pointed out, tyranny can come from dictators, oligarchs, or mob rule. Our system was designed the way it is to spread power out amongst various parts of the government - House, Senate, President - to prevent concentration of power and avoid tyranny.

[@cranbers]

even now with the most extreme democrats ever controlling house senate and white house, the courts and senate are still able to keep them from doing what they want if that system didn't exist. You see them upset about those safe guards, 9 justices, getting rid of filibuster, getting rid of electoral college. Even the executive over stepping is still getting stopped by the supreme court when congress won't step in.

[@atraxisdarkstar]

And yet all that may be for naught in an era where people don't concede their losses and try to overthrow legitimate election results rather than relinquish power.

[@MinisterRedPill]

Amazing how you can have tyranny come from all 3 at once.

[@patriciodasilva7902]

Mob rule is all we have in modernity. Get over it. There are two basic mobs, Republicans and Democrats.

[@sabrinat5446]

@atraxisdarkstar - you spelled “stolen election” wrong. And don’t tell me Bumbling-Basement-Biden “won” with 80M votes 😂🤦‍♀️ If you actually believe that then you’re too gullible for this world.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

I'm surprised ScrewTube hasn't put one of their warning labels on this clip

[@boyboi1855]

Well, it's not like the video contains something inherently harmful to viewers to see or hear about.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

@@boyboi1855 PragerU is countering the "the US is a democracy " narrative that the communists,,oops, Democrats keep spouting...ScrewTube always follows the communists,oops, Democrats party line...

[@quietcub8917]

They actually specifically will not allow you to report this ad, it's almost as if it's not about "who is violating the ToS" but rather "who isn't paying us enough money to ignore the ToS" when KZbin Mods come knocking.

[@seanarnold8980]

No reason to... they favor conservatism and right wing ideas... just as long as it doesn't promote violence. They censor the left whether or not the left promotes violence. This is a nice video on the topic of KZbin censorship: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqmZqKVphMyhgKM You can see the effects of censorship against the left on his other video here. Let me know how many buttons you have to press just to start watching the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWPOmXSjgrl0oKs On the second one... the share button was also removed for the longest time. Just recently got added back in.

[@shriker5969]

Not sure what happened, but this video was gone for some time.

[@skwarubwa7083]

Very wisely put, Professor George.

[@tr4321]

I love this, I’ve been saying this for years...we are a constitutional republic!!!!

[@juanitamora4857]

This is a constitutional republic that is not socialist or communist! It has a reprentative democratic form of government, they used to teach that in elementary school, apparently the moronic teachers doesn't know, they weren't taught that or they were absent the day their teacher talked about it!

[@edmundbanks1806]

THEY NEED TO TEACH THIS TO EVERYONE,

[@ohwhataday7171]

Schools did at one time like when I was in my high school’s government classes.

[@LoudAngryJerk]

Instead they teach what a republic actually is A republic, which is a system by which we elect representatives meant to engage on the behalf of their constituents, has another name. You know what it is? It's a **Representative Democracy**' Saying "America isn't a democracy, it's a republic" is like saying "that's not a fish, it's a european sea-bass"

[@Darryl603]

The democrats banned it from schools

[@Retrocaus]

@@LoudAngryJerk issue is that in this case there is a fish called "fish"

[@privateconfidential4775]

A Democracy would be better; the rights of the masses should outweigh the rights of the isolated millionaire

[@pipoviola]

Such an AMAZING explanation! Great job. Thank you.

[@tran-vm3uu]

Thanks!

[@krobson17]

When I was in grade school (late 90’s / early 2000’s) we were always told it was a democracy. I to this day wonder why they never taught this in school.

[@summersojourner]

The indoctrination had already begun.

[@TC-eo5eb]

Because public schools have been purposely grooming and indoctrinating students towards socialism and CRT. To do that, they have to eliminate history from the classroom.

[@barryhaley7430]

A Republic is a form of democracy. A pure democracy would be where everyone voted on every propose bill. Switzerland comes close to that. Generally not a good idea because the positions of the majority are frequently dysfunctional and prejudicial. So electing representatives make sense. Constitutional Monarchies are another form of democracy. They too elect representatives. BTW, 7 of the top ten most democratic countries are Constitutional Monarchies.

[@skysurfer5cva]

@@barryhaley7430 No, a republic is NOT a form of democracy. Except for citizen suffrage, they share little in common. Federalist 10 has a good description of the differences.

[@charlessmith4242]

* One of the aims of the enemies of this country is to gain control of our education system ( among other things like our media, our politicians, etc. ). You can defeat a country by waging war, or by slowly destroying it from within. Our enemies have been at it for a long time.

[@randidavies6803]

Excellent teaching on the difference between a democracy and a republic. Let’s keep our republic.👍

[@barryhaley7430]

It actually a vey biased representation. First a republic is one of the forms of democracy. The other major form are constitutional monarchies. Both forms are usually representative democracies where citizens elect people to represent them in whatever legislative system they use. There are no actual pure democracies. The closest is Switzerland where citizens vote 4 times a year on specific bills. But even there, there federal system is typical representative democracy. And even there, the closest country to a pure democracy, Switzerland is a republic.

[@-WiseGuy-]

Uhh...you mean the Republic we DO NOT have?? The U.S. is a FASCIST OLIGARCHY. Try to pay attention sometime.

[@alfredbenedek3398]

THAT IS - - -DE - MO - C R A T ! ! - - -

[@-WiseGuy-]

@@alfredbenedek3398 What are you babbling??

[@beverlywilliams7278]

This should be shown in every high school in the US!!

[@ohwhataday7171]

It was when I was in high school. It should be brought back.

[@medmuscle]

It's been replaced with videos teaching ideological subversion.

[@juliansandoval8022]

@@ohwhataday7171 This is part of the citizenship exam for foreigners who want to become americans. Meaning, non-americans end up knowing more about the country than a lot of americans.

[@gforceforever]

If only!

[@Rick-tb4so]

Yes it should, but the leaders in charge don't want to educate people, just keep them dumb.

[@scottj8791]

I was trying to understand the difference between a republic and a democracy but it wasn't just quite coming together. This crystallized it for me. Thank you.

[@spena2786]

I learned more watching your videos than I ever did in my entire life in public school.

[@peretzo]

agreed. scary isn’t it? That in a 5-minute video you can learn so much more than school ever taught you

[@MalcontentFlower]

My junior history teacher had breakdown one evening. It was elective credit; most of the class were seniors and already had graduated, so there were only like three students. The teacher was pretty new to the job, not more than three years. She cried and pleaded with us to make sure our kids wanted to learn, and she lamented how hard it was to reach her students. There is A LOT wrong with public education, but this sort of knowledge gets repeated from the seventh grade onwards. If you didn't pick it up, that's kind of on you.

[@MalcontentFlower]

Ugh, re-reading that came across as super preachy. I stand by what I said, just regret the way I wrote it.

[@cm9241]

Because they distill conservative propaganda down into 5 minute clips so that their faithful morons with poor attention spans can actually sit through the entire thing.

[@spena2786]

@@cm9241 Go take a bath hippy I can smell you from the screen. I’m sure Venezuela, China, and hey.. I hear Afghanistan’s a great place to go to this time of year, they love Americans :) go there. You hate America :) it’s gorgeous values :) you’re free to go thanks to those values :) go on :) leave :) we won’t miss you :) 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

[@mannyponce2230]

These videos are not only highly educational but also incredibly satisfying to watch. "Hola" from Mexico :)

[@snowlothar45]

If we still said The Pledge of Allegiance in school, maybe more people would know it is a Republic. "And to the Republic for which it stands."

[@KathleenHolland-nk8nk]

Exactly! That's what I'm saying! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

[@xrayguy65]

Wonderful explanation. Can you explain how the states have varying numbers of Representatives instead of a set amount like the Senate?

[@CarpetFTW]

Sounds like we have an oligarchy to me. Nobody feels represented and the country is in an awful state.

[@paulparker8934]

I think feel that way. It’s clear we all need more honest representation

[@PubliusUSA]

Your correct, read Washington's Farewell Address paragraphs 19 to 26. The Founders designed a zero party system and warned of faction parties. Parties are NGO's! Prager is mis-reciting US history and law.

[@paulparker8934]

@@PubliusUSA Yes, that is the original hope of the founders. But in truth that one was a bit naive to think humans won’t band together in like minded groups. It actually surprises me they didn’t account for it.

[@PubliusUSA]

@@paulparker8934 They did account for it by separating powers and dividing venues/jurisdictions, the caucus system, and the electoral college. And, with an 'educated and enlightened populace.' (See Geo Washington's Farewell Address). The founders believed in natural law and the right to assemble was one of those laws. They thought their 'separations and division' would prevent parties/oligarchies from 'consuming the nation from within. '

[@paulparker8934]

@@PubliusUSA Indeed, they created a system that accounted for man’s worst attributes and kept power from the hands of the few.

[@FredWhosDead]

Great video. This should be played in all schools and colleges once a week.

[@dolfinw4179]

That is a very "democratic" thought of yours.

[@FredWhosDead]

@@dolfinw4179 Education is a good thing. Don’t knock it until you have tried it.

[@ohwhataday7171]

It used to be

[@amio_roseto1]

naa. the teachers dont want to educate the kids with something that fill with ideas what is a republic or why its part of the US..

[@Darryl603]

The democrats banned it from schools

[@davidhandyman7571]

Thank you. The more I learn about your Republic, the more I see the wisdom of it and like it. I wish we had the same system here in Australia. There have been a number of referendums to change to a republic, but no-one has put forward what sort of republic and therefore, the referendums have not supported a change. Blessings from a land down under. Do you want a 51st state?

[@Iforgotme]

yes.

[@ek737]

I learn more in these 5 minute videos than I have in all my years at school.

[@richarddow69]

Outstanding!!! I am presently in Moscow and I just shared this video with children that don't understand why so many here want to move to the USA. But I think this country can be what they all want if the people stay the course! Your videos show the way. Considering how far they have already come from the day the Wall came down. Keep making these short to the point videos, more than the young (and old) of the USA are watching. God Bless the United States of America 🇺🇸 for all it has done for the world 🌎 God Bless the Citizens of the World.

[@weseecominc2424]

they should stay there until our nation is fixed . russia is in a better spot than us and holds better values . we need to fix ourselves

[@donnaleveron6511]

I agree. So many countries could be changed for the better if the people are willing to change it.

[@Perririri]

@@weseecominc2424 Why not just stay in Russia and make improvements _there!_ Russia is a vast country, and has less population.

[@Lucia-sy7le]

​​​​@@weseecominc2424Yes, we're in a bit of a predicament now but spatiba. Slava Russia. 🤍💙♥️It was also set forth as an experiment and as such, we are experiencing some problems here to say the very least. Keep moving forward, RF, with this American's blessings.

[@Lucia-sy7le]

We are crumbling right now. You are doing much better. We have barely been able to tie a knot at the end of the rope to which we are holding on until Biden leaves. It has been a disaster with him as president. If Trump gets in, we will have hope. Otherwise, we will have lost our Republic forever.

[@ST8URCASE]

“The ideal of a constitutional republic is individual liberty. In this century, great strides have been made toward the goal of subverting our republic, and transforming it into a democracy. The foremost tactic of the subverters is subversion of “language” - by calling America a democracy, until people thoughtlessly accept the term, and use the term. Totalitarians have obscured the real meanings and principles of American government.” - Dan Smoot

[@robindelude3787]

That video is another awesome explanation of Constitutional Republic vs democracy.

[@lyndaniel3369]

Someone wise once said (I think Orwell) that the easiest and fastest way to subvert a country is to change the LANGUAGE.

[@-WiseGuy-]

This is an utterly MEANINGLESS, MORONIC statement, for no other purpose but to deceive! Nobody with power EVER tried to turn the U.S. into a Democracy. It has, obviously and provably, been hijacked and transformed into a FASCIST OLIGARCHY!

[@ronaldbarton1734]

Brilliantly put.

[@rainydaysunnylife5718]

​@@robindelude3787Yes, now we need one explaining the difference between a republic and an autocracy and a dictatorship as well.

[@RossWalden-xu8lg]

I’m 55 years old and I’ve been asking this question for 30 years - this is the best simplest breakdown I’ve ever heard thank you

[@jonaslima001]

Thank you for this vídeo it enligthted and enlarged my understanting about those forms of government.

[@parrotconservative]

I like how clear said this is no one on KZbin would explain it any better

[@johngalt2.031]

I don't understand why so many people gave a thumbs down. Doesn't a Republican form of government with Democratic institutions make way more sense than a pure democracy? Unfortunately, Democrats see the Constitution as an obstacle to be overcome or evaded rather than a guiding document to be respected and adhered to.

[@davidhandyman7571]

The Democrats want either an oligarchy or dictatorship, so they will always oppose the republic. Blessings from Australia.

[@BGTuyau]

Professor George offers a superb outline of one of the fundamentals of American political philosophy here. What is sad is how many Americans and immigrants to The US -including those from other Western democracies- fail to understand and appreciate the matters at issue. Kudos to Prager and George for this video.

[@stevenewman1393]

"AMERICA IS NOT A DEMOCRACY IT IS TRULY A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO TRULY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!".

[@-WiseGuy-]

No, actually, we have a FASCIST OLIGARCHY pretending to be a Republic. Ever heard of this concept called 'paying attention'??🤦‍♂

[@Darryl603]

That's why the democrats say Trump is such a threat to democracy (this thing of theirs) He will restore things to a Republic like the great wisdom of our founding fathers had intended. Vote RED! PLEASE!!!

[@Retrocaus]

@@-WiseGuy- I think he meant that it was meant to be

[@dalmac5978]

Oh the stupidity of this comment.

[@-WiseGuy-]

@NF_0808 Ok, BOT...go away!

[@Michael-rx7ff]

I’m so glad Professor George is back making Prager U videos!

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

Are you a DEMOCRAT?

[@Michael-rx7ff]

@@ReverendDr.Thomas I beg your pardon?

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

@@Michael-rx7ff See above.☝️

[@JB69.]

God bless Dennis Prager and PragerU.

[@valeriebreathet741]

@@JB69. What a dirty joke!!! PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH ABOUT THIS SO-CALLED EDUCATIONAL SOURCE!!!

[@-WiseGuy-]

Yeah...Imaginary being bless the propagandists called PragerU!🤦‍♂

[@loopeyshooter503]

Makes total sense to me. Thanks for making it so easy to understand.

[@CoolPapaJMagik]

“It’s not an oligarchy” If our country became an oligarchy, would you be able to tell?

[@maxwell8758]

Well, yes.

[@gracepunla4433]

You're using too much internet man.

[@Rockhound6165]

It's an oligarchy now.

[@maxwell8758]

@@Rockhound6165 It's objectively not.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

@@maxwell8758 It's VERY much an oligarchy right now. We have political dynasties like the Bush, Clinton and Kennedy families, possibly the Obama's now too. Way too many politicians are holding seats like basically forever. They're in cahoots with big business and special interest groups who give them money for (redacted) RE-ELECTION (unredacted) and the media and Big Tech are covering their asses. Just because you have elections doesn't mean there is no oligarchy. All forms of government are oligarchy. The different forms are just how the ruling elite justifies its rule to the masses. The US was always an oligarchy, all countries end up with a ruling elite, even after the most violent of revolutions a new elite always forms. The only question is to how brazen and open they are about their rule and corruption.

[@AllenLJames]

I have never had it explain so well.

[@thunderlord-nsr6153]

These men were clearly thinking when they wrote out the constitution of the United States of America.

[@sluiceman2004]

They were actually divinely inspired.

[@ggefryg]

@@sluiceman2004 Against their divinely inspired British.

[@MrOlivier1967]

Not really, they wrote a constitution made for 13 States, occupied with less than 5 millions people with an economy based on slavery. That is what they did.

[@ggefryg]

@@MrOlivier1967 Established the FIRST constitution in the world, wrote the Declaration of Independence(arguably the most important document in human history) that abolished slavery, gave rise to the industrial revolution, the Gilded age, Capitalism, etc.

[@MrOlivier1967]

@@ggefryg They wrote the constitution in 1787, slavery was abolished in 1865 (13th amendment) about one century later. 😉

[@marieschmidt9416]

Excellent! And a video with good clarity concerning republics.

[@pamelarose1834]

I wish the People could understand the importance of the Militia and how it is so relevant today.

[@alwaysfreedom9354]

Yes. And the Second Amendment. 120 million gun owners.

[@davidrandell2224]

Which States have a Militia? None.

[@jamesdodson4659]

The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

[@DavidSibley040461]

This the danger of a false dichotomy. People like you draw a false conclusion. We are a democracy and that is important. He is careful to use qualifying words. He clearly understands that we are democratic just not pure democracy. But, he still sets up the false dichotomy. It is horrible to deny that we are a democracy. The BS that we are a Republic not a Democracy is one of the stupidest "intellectual" talking points ever.

[@jamesdodson4659]

@@DavidSibley040461 wait...so you're saying the average voter is well informed? I don't think that's going to be hard for me to disprove.

[@jamesdodson4659]

@@DavidSibley040461 Certain democratic processes are likely ideal in a polity but its asinine to say that political franchise should be extended to all adults. At the very least it should be restricted to those with land holdings or comparable assets. Otherwise individuals with no assets will just vote to pay themselves with little regard for the future of the nation. That's what we are seeing now.

[@DavidSibley040461]

@@jamesdodson4659 I didn't say that. Democracy is the best alternative even given the fact some are not well informed.

[@DavidSibley040461]

@@jamesdodson4659 The point is valid. A similar problem is people who don't pay taxes voting to increase taxes on those who do. Again, though, democracy is the best compared to the alternatives

[@nsnopper]

A very clear explanation. Thank you.

[@lilithsmith1290]

That speech should be broadcast every day at schools University, radio , TV, newspapers, on and on . Thank you!

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

I have to say, very well done on this one PragerU, very well done! Thank you.

[@45sticky]

Gee, I learned this in six grade and in Jr and High school civics. Too bad they don’t teach this in school anymore.

[@patriciodasilva7902]

because it's a lie, that's why they don't teach it in school.

[@BladetheSelachii]

"What form of government do you Americans have?" Most Americans: "Democracy!!!" Me: "A Constitutional Republic Federation."

[@lcs684]

The us is a democracy though. It isn't a pure democracy, but it's a democracy nonetheless.

[@gocygo63]

@@lcs684 ...it is a representative republic...

[@lcs684]

@@gocygo63 it's still a democracy though. Republic and democracy are not opposite ideologies. The opposite of a republic is a monarchy, the opposite of a democracy is dictatorship. You can still be a republic and a democracy (ie. United States) you can also have a monarchy with democracy (ie. United Kingdom). The definition of democracy is the idea that people get to vote who their leader is. That's what the United States is like.

[@GODHATESADOPTION]

@@lcs684 then the person who won the popular vote would win but they didnt since we have an electoral college! gotcha!

[@lcs684]

@@GODHATESADOPTION ok. We still vote who our leaders are though. America is still a democracy, just not a pure democracy. If all of the citizens are able to vote who their leader of their country is, that makes it a democracy. That's literally what a democracy is.

[@Rob337_aka_CancelProof]

1:32 AKA, A Tyranny of the masses ("two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch" Benjamin Franklin) which is why Plato Socrates and Aristotle all hated the idea of democracy which only works when engaged in by everyone like Solon the Wise mandated for All Greek citizens to participate in the "Polis" (punishable by imprisonment or fines or both) when he abolished Draco's law and instituted the new law based on ‘ISOnomia" the Greek idea of freedom which most Americans seem clueless about

[@wallacelang1374]

Whenever someone asks me what form of government that the United States government is, I usually respond with it is a federal constitutional representative republic. They inevitably say don't you mean a democracy. I reply no for democracies break down and destroy themselves within a single generation.

[@Harsh12351]

Really? What about India, the world's largest democracy?

[@wallacelang1374]

@@Harsh12351 India is not really a true democracy for they have a Parliament which means that they actually are a representative republic instead.

[@EbonyBunny1]

@@Harsh12351 India is not a democracy either.

[@wallacelang1374]

@@eugenepiurkowski6026 no I am not wrong for a pure democracy ends up with whoever obtains the largest number of people by percentage totally mutes everyone else, this was what both founding fathers George Washington and John Adams referred to as "a mad dog democracy".

[@paper2689]

To be fair republics break down quite fast as well, usually into monarchic empires or ruthless oligarcies, I'm not saying democracy is the true form of government, but the republic has its many flaws as well

[@Holycow94WoW]

So glad they posted this! I’ve been explaining to people for the last few week why we are not a democracy and the reasons why we don’t want to be

[@shizuwolf]

What’s your definition of democracy?

[@skydaddy8918]

Thank you for making this i have had the hardest time understanding this you make it alot easier

[@tran-vm3uu]

Thank you very much for educational video. You have answered my question sir.

[@GVSolo]

Clear and concise explanation. I love it.

[@beyangbeyang2266]

Thank you PragerU!

[@ddcardo]

The more centralized the government becomes, the more the electoral college makes sense.

[@redpillsatori3020]

Really? And how well has that worked out so far. By your own admission the electoral college has failed to stop this

[@littleredridinghood6187]

@@redpillsatori3020 I'm from one of the small states that doesn't want New York or California making all the choices for our country. Not sure about you but I prefer knowing that in terms of the electoral college they make it so small middle America states are heard also. 6-7 states should not choose everything for the whole country.

[@redpillsatori3020]

@@littleredridinghood6187 ..true, and I’m not disputing that, nor am I saying the electoral college isn’t better than a direct, popular vote. What I am saying is that the OP’s comment is nonsense (at least to me) because he’s saying we need the electoral college system to protect us from an ever-more-tyrannical centralized government even though it was this very system that allowed it to come about in the first place, although, I admit, it probably slowed the process compared to having direct elections.

[@ddcardo]

@@redpillsatori3020 Did I say it would stop it?

[@AverageArsenalFan]

@@littleredridinghood6187 being born in California does not make you a democrat right out of the womb they gain those values over the course of life it just makes sense for a popular vote

[@8notoriusinquisitorius87]

Thank you PragerU & Professor George! I shared this video with the hope that more people will become aware.

[@markjoel7034]

Wow, extremely educational. I understand better our political system now. Thanks PragerU.

[@bicyclist2]

Ideally we started out as a Republic. But now in practice we are a Oligarchy. And have been for many decades.

[@ziraprod6090]

YOU can put a stop to this.

[@Rockfieldyoyou]

This is why I watch PragerU's videos. In addtion to interesting opinions, I can learn the histroy of how the US has been builted.

[@logicprevails2790]

"was built"

[@johnsoutherland3403]

@@logicprevails2790 builted bro, builted.

[@emwZEEK]

@@johnsoutherland3403 It was just builted different

[@MalcontentFlower]

@@emwZEEK twis builted diffently

[@davidyetter5409]

Maybe they should start making videos on proper Grammer and spelling. Just a thought.

[@amio_roseto1]

Great video, simple, elegant and explain in such way everyone can understand the necessity of a republic in the USA

[@jacobkalee]

To be fair, I have heard many politicians, mainly Democrats, stating we are a democracy. People are likely just following that too. A US History class I took in college said that we are a Constitutional Republic.

[@sheshotjfk8375]

The confusion comes from the fact that a Democracy is a Republic. As surprising as it may be, the guy making this video doesn't know what he is talking about.

[@buzzbuzz132]

.....many believe democrat politicians always say “democracy “ to the public.....as a means of influencing poorly educated masses....so when it comes time to vote....they simply read democrat, and vote that person.......

[@newtonfirefly3584]

False ! LIES Amon LIARS ! Ignoramuses ! False InDOCtrination, Propaganda ! As stated explicitly in this video by [Professor] Robert George from James Madison within The Federalist Papers [#10], the specific differences between a Republic and Democracy. James Madison détails other significant, vital, critical aspects including issues with factions, parties (which clearly the instituted political parties override the described benefits, thus allow the "Elite" to direct, dictate, control all of the Government, transform it into Governance, Authoritarian control which The Founders all opposed with GB-England King George !) All The Best, Sincerely

[@-WiseGuy-]

True. And they're ALL wrong! The U.S. is, obviously and provably, a FASCIST OLIGARCHY.

[@tkatty2339]

I loved this video! If only they would teach this in our schools and in colleges!

[@boanerges6886]

Beautifully explained excellent job!

[@richardwoolery5289]

I have great respect for both Robert George and Allen Guelzo as academics and intellectuals. I also find many of the PragerU videos that focus on US history & government quite good. Yet I have a few critiques of this video when the electoral college is addressed: 1. It is needs to be remembered that the Electoral College was a compromise between a direct popular vote and allowing Congress to choose the President. The desire to have different modes of electing the President, Senate, and the House of Representatives was seen as necessary in order to divide power. 2. The way the electors were chosen for the Electoral College in the first presidential elections (up until the Jacksonian period of the 1830s and 1840s) is much different than today. Today all but 2 states have the popular vote elect their electors. So if a candidate wins the popular vote by one vote, they get all of the electors. 3. It is true that the elimination of the electoral college with its replacement by a direct popular vote would isolate the less populous states from a significant voice in the election of the president. However, the problem today is that the so-called battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, etc. have excessive influence over who is elected President simply because they are the battleground states. In addition, it is the urban & suburban, more populated areas of these battleground states that get the focus of the presidential candidates and less so the rural, less populated areas. I agree with the whole concept of the Electoral College but it needs to be reformed. Here are my proposals: 1. Make the electoral votes of each state be determined by the popular vote in each state. If a candidate wins 60% of the popular vote, they should receive 60% of the electoral votes. That will encourage voters in states that are dominated by one political party to actually vote for president because their vote will play a role in electing the president. Right now, for example, Republicans in California and Democrats in Wyoming don’t have much incentive to vote for President. It will also encourage candidates to nationalize their campaigns rather than narrowly focusing on the demands of the battleground states. 2. Give the winner of the popular vote throughout the nation one extra electoral vote. As of now, a 269-269 tie means the state delegations within the House of Representatives decide on the final winner. Allow the voters to decide who the President will be.

[@SCharlesDennicon]

Excellent video. Quite an eloquent man.

[@mttrnx]

In a very old Universal History book I read how Athens, the first democracy, fell because because the very same rules that gave rise to its brilliant politicians also permitted the rise of demagogues more interested in personal gain and obtaining favour of the populace. In contrast, years later, other old one book I read called the US electoral colleges "a curious and archaic institution" that determines the national votation result instead of universal suffrage. It wasn't until recent years and after especially the last elections that I at least understood the incredible foresight of the founding fathers and why the US democracy stays strong while another countries had fallen many times despite trying democracy again and again. No doubt, the fathers were men that not only read the classics and know history but also understood the lessons that can be obtained from them.

[@Motofanable]

well, athenian democracy would be by modern standard described as directorial republic.

[@arielview6601]

We're not a democracy, we're a constitutional Republic.