Coles Co., Ill. (ECWd) –
During the public comment portion of the December 2023, Coles County Board meeting, board member and Eastern Illinois University English Professor, Gail Mason, read a lengthy prepared statement – watch it below or click here.
If you are interested in the different forms of government, and what form of government each country in the world is, see this CIA World Fact Book (here).
It is clear, Mason talks about the United States as a Democracy – while we are actually a Constitutional Federal Republic, even Article IV, Section 4, of the United States Constitution states that “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government…”
During her speech, she mentioned fake news and “alternative” facts, then went on the speak about the differences between a democracy and fascist or authoritarian rule. Clearly, Mason needs to further educate herself as to the difference between a Constitutional Republic and a Democracy.
Her words gave examples from the extremes, which can be observed on both sides of the political aisle, although we suspect she was only talking about the far right.
7 Responses
Educated Idiot!
At the very end of the meeting I heard an invitation provided to the County Board members concerning an upcoming Board of Review hearing. It sounds informative. Is there a way we can view?
Not sure when that meeting is but if we find out about it and cant make it we will live stream it.
We are drowning in information while starving for truth and wisdom.. A “constitutional republic” is a state in which the representatives (and other officials) are limited and restricted by a constitution.. The fact is the framers of the US Constitution were adamant about not forming this country as a democracy. They thought a “democracy” is two wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
I’m sure she is a very good person who loves and cares for her family. However, I must say that was brutal to watch. I was a bit uncomfortable hearing that rant.
Seems to me that the tone was all wrong. The other members seem to have been cringing. I hope they work it out. God Bless America and the Republic for which it stands.
Context.
When Churchill and Truman criticized Stalin for not holding the promised free elections in Poland, the USSR”s response was (paraphrasing comments that would not fit in the space allowed here) “You have a Constitutional Republic, Poland has a People’s Republic!” Discussions proved pointless. At that point, Americans said (again, paraphrasing) “We have a Democracy!” which must have hit a nerve, as the USSR dusted off that old perennial “And you lynch Negroes.”
And various state and local governments have initiative, referendum, and recall, a form of direct democracy. It was only 20 years ago that Californians recalled Gray Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Constitution does state “Republican Form of Government” but for over 100 years various state and local governments have used some “Democratic Form of Government” features.
So, so tired of hearing about democracy as our form of government. It seems very few understand that democracy is tyranny of the majority. Yet, democracy is what we hear championed at every turn. Maybe that’s what we’re going to end up with after all……
At approximately 27:20 she states the extra curricular activities that are not part of schools in many (most?) countries. They have to pay for them. Sounds like a very good thing to me. Education is not a constitutional guarantee. You are, however, guaranteed the right to seek an education.
At 27:39, not quite sure who she is talking about exercising those means to destroy opponents…just wondering….as it sounds like that is what is actually going on here in some instances.
At 29:31 she demolishes her own case saying democracy is not about the strength of one individual. She is correct in that is precisely what democracy is NOT. In a Constitutional Republic, it does not matter if 99% want something that is not constitutional, the 1% should prevail on the constitutionality of an issue. A Constitutional Republic is COMPLETELY about the strength of one constitutionally entitled individual.
We need to learn and teach this as we are, if not already over it, on the precipice of losing our understanding of what we have and what we are coming so close to losing.