At the polls

[Angus MacSpey]

The greatest danger to our democracy comes from an uninformed, apathetic electorate.
.

Agreed.

But aren't we supposed to be a republic?

[Retro Red]

But aren't we supposed to be a republic?

You say tomāto and I say tomăto…

If you care to split hairs (or hares), since we pledge allegiance “…to the Republic for which it stands…” I’ll grant that the U.S.A. is a republic, but the two terms are commonly used interchangeably. Note the great similarity in Merriam-Webster’s definition for the two words – particularly “democracy 1b” and “republic 1b.”

Main Entry: de•moc•ra•cy
Pronunciation: di-'mä-kr&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Etymology: Middle French democratie, from Late Latin democratia, from Greek dEmokratia, from dEmos + -kratia -cracy
1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
2 : a political unit that has a democratic government
3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the United States <from emancipation Republicanism to New Deal Democracy -- C. M. Roberts>
4 : the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority
5 : the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges


Main Entry: re•pub•lic
Pronunciation: ri-'p&-blik
Function: noun
Etymology: French république, from Middle French republique, from Latin respublica, from res thing, wealth + publica, feminine of publicus public -- more at REAL, PUBLIC
1 a (1) : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government b (1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government c : a usually specified republican government of a political unit <the French Fourth Republic>
2 : a body of persons freely engaged in a specified activity <the republic of letters>
3 : a constituent political and territorial unit of the former nations of Czechoslovakia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or Yugoslavia

Bottom line for both is - if the people don't vote, no republic or democracy!
.

[bubba]

What puts the wind up my kilt is the poll workers were hoping for a 50% turnout, as though that's a GOOD thing. When half or fewer of those eligable to vote don't do so we're in serious trouble.

[Graham]

So true Bubba, the kilt ensures you are never forgotten!

I've only once been to vote in a kilt, it shows that ANYTHING can be more fun in a kilt.

[Panache]

... it shows that ANYTHING can be more fun in a kilt.

Hmmm I thought that EVERYTHING was more fun in a kilt...

except Bee Keeping


Cheers

[KiltedKnight]

I still don't understand why so many get so many different reactions to their kilts. I have stated many times before that I live in East Los Angeles, California and jokingly refer to myself as the only white man around. I went to vote yesterday in my best Scottish 16 oz. Macleod of Harris kilt complete with Gillie Brogues, kilt hose, white shirt, tie and vest topped off with my Balmoral and Clan badge. My Gillie Brogues have steel cleats that make first contact when I step and on the hardwood floors of the school gym that serves as the polling place they command attention from the sharp sounds they make. (the floors are about 1000 years old and couldn't be damaged by a hammer and chisel), When I walked into the room everyone looked up at me and I got nothing but respectful smiles from everyone there and not one snicker or sidewise glance. I did my voting and walked out with everyone wishing everyone a nice day.

Chris.