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No, it isn’t weird, it’s simply rejecting the frankly naive notion that you should change everything all the time according to the whims of the populace. Histor

No, it isn’t weird, it’s simply rejecting the frankly naive notion that you should change everything all the time according to the whims of the populace. History and human nature didn’t begin in 1950. Again, the US has never had anything remotely as horrible as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany. That’s likely a consequence of a constitutional government with limited powers. The United Kingdom is in a very similar situation, although their specific version is different. —- Editing because apparently I am “posting too fast” and can’t reply. What a passive aggressive move. Responding to your comment: The American Revolution preceded the French one by a decade plus. Your chronology is backwards. The French Revolution also didn’t pave the way for much at all. It failed, led to Napoleon, that failed, led to other monarchic systems until WWW1, another disaster, which led to fascism and WW2, an even bigger disaster. And the US isn’t a democracy and never has been. The founders set it up as a representative republic for a specific reason. My thesis still stands that the US is infinitely more stable and has been in comparison to Europe, largely due to its adherence to the original constitution and legal setup.

rndgermandude 5y ago
>Again, the US has never had anything remotely as horrible as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany. Google the Three-Fifth compromise some day. Or whip out your copy of the US Constitution and closely read Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3. It took a civil war that almost tore apart the nation to rectify. That's what those - infallible to some - founding fathers compromised on.
- mythrwy 5y ago
  You work with what you have. In the time you exist.
  - hef19898 5y ago
    In the case some founding fathers, quite literally. Or rather who you own works for you as long as they exist.
    - disneygibson 5y ago
      If the anti-slavery states hadn’t compromised with the slave ones, the Revolution would have failed. Slavery would have likely existed longer because the British would end up being allied to the slave states (likely still colonies.) Nothing is more nauseating that modern people looking upon the past with moral superiority.
      - hef19898 5y ago
        Didn't the British abolish slavery before the US?
        disneygibson 5y ago
        The British could abolish slavery because they no longer had any real economic incentive to keep it, as they had lost their colonies. They also then proceeded to exploit labor in India in barely better conditions. If Britain retained its American colonies (because the slave holding ones didn’t join the revolution) then abolition might not have happened at all.
hef19898 5y ago
Funny. It was the French Revolution that paved the way for modern democracies in the West. If I remember correctly, the American Revolutionary Army received quite some assistance from them. It is ironic so, the the French ended up with an Emperor so, I have to agree. Not comparing anything to Nazi Germany, but didn't the US have a pretty nasty Civil War? Also, changing things based on the whim of the population is pretty much the core believe of democracy. As long as that change is following some process and is happening peacefully. Just a disclaimer, demonstrations that end in some violence are still what I would consider "peaceful", as opposed to outright anarchy or civil wars. EDIT: Yep, the French revolution happened after the American one. The French helped the US as reaction to the Seven Year war, basically to stick it to the British. That Napoleon became Emperor was also caused by the various wars the French Republic fought against the various European monarchies. History is ironic sometimes.
- matthewmorgan 5y ago
  American revolution happened before the French one.
  - rjsw 5y ago
    And the English revolution happened before either of them.
tlocke 5y ago
The UK is different from the USA because it doesn't have a written constitution. Then UK has a parliamentary system but the USA has a presidential system. I'd say that from a constitutional perspective the US system is most similar to the French system.
hef19898 5y ago
Ah, the "a republic isn't a democracy" trope. That debunked so often, I won't even go there here. You're right with the french revolution so. Doesn't change the fact the French supported the US a lot. And yes, the French Revolution is seen, rightly so if you ask me despite the Terror and so on, as the first real modern democracy in Europe. At a time when Europe was reigned by Kings and Emperors. A side note, I really don't get why Napoleon is seen in such bad light. His Code Civil is to this day the basis of some legal concepts, and was very progressive.
- ByteJockey 5y ago
  > A side note, I really don't get why Napoleon is seen in such bad light. He tried to conquer a bunch of places. That's generally not seen kindly in the modern era. Also he lost, which generally allows one's opponents to control the narrative.
  - hef19898 5y ago
    Which makes you wonder how history would have turned out if Napoleon would have been as stupid to go to Russia. Imagine he would have taken the most powerful army of the time, including staunch (more or less) allies (incl. the Prussians, minor German powers, Austrians) to Spain against Wellington. Interesting what-if. Just proofs that you don't go to war with Russia or try to conquer Afghanistan.
- ericmay 5y ago
  > A side note, I really don't get why Napoleon is seen in such bad light. I’m really surprised that he isn’t more often seen in a bad light. He started a gigantic war, mobilized millions to expand an empire, crowned himself emperor, etc… When do we draw the line? I think as a society we are very hypocritical and nonsensical in who we venerate. People were having serious discussions about how “offensive” the Lincoln Memorial was… yet nobody is clamoring for removing statues of Napoleon? I’m just not following the logic in any of this. > Ah, the "a republic isn't a democracy" trope. That debunked so often, I won't even go there here. Debunked in what way? The founding fathers (to their shame in my view) were explicit in creating a republic system and gave only certain people such as landowners and men the right to vote. Republicanism is a form of democracy, but it stands in stark contrast to what the person you are replying to is talking about which is a “might makes right” 51-49 wins kind of democracy, which if you look at Congress the founders set up explicitly to counteract. Now, the OP may be making a mistake in terminology, but it’s very clear that the founders were against simple majority. Frankly, I have to say I am too, because a 51-49 kind of country quickly falls apart. You can see elements of that at play today.
muspimerol 5y ago
> Again, the US has never had anything remotely as horrible as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany. That’s likely a consequence of a constitutional government with limited powers. Uhhh... slavery? American Indian genocide? The Civil War? The US has certainly had things at least "remotely as horrible" as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany, although the holocaust is a bit of stretch.
- DonHopkins 5y ago
  Not only did America have the Civil War over slavery, but the losers are still trying to fight it today, they can't face the reality that they lost the last election, and they even tried to pull off a violent insurrection, breaking into and defecating and urinating and marching through the halls of Congress with a Confederate battle flag. https://theconversation.com/the-confederate-battle-flag-which-rioters-flew-inside-the-us-capitol-has-long-been-a-symbol-of-white-insurrection-153071 https://theconversation.com/the-confederate-battle-flag-whic... >The Confederate battle flag, which rioters flew inside the US Capitol, has long been a symbol of white insurrection >Confederate soldiers never reached the Capitol during the Civil War. But the Confederate battle flag was flown by rioters in the U.S. Capitol building for the first time ever on Jan. 6. https://nypost.com/2021/01/08/rioters-left-feces-urine-in-hallways-and-offices-during-mobbing-of-us-capitol/ https://nypost.com/2021/01/08/rioters-left-feces-urine-in-ha... >“Congressional staffers saw feces in the hallways,” the source said Friday. >The vile vandals apparently took dumps in bathrooms and then spread around their poop, a Schumer insider said. >“It came from the bathroom and they tracked it around,” the source said. “There was an intentional effort to degrade the Capitol building.” >Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) of Brooklyn also reported that some members of the mob urinated on the floors during the rampage. >“There was urine. There was clear desecration,” he told WNYC on Thursday.
  - avh02 5y ago
    "infinitely [...] stable"

rndgermandude 5y ago

>Again, the US has never had anything remotely as horrible as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany. Google the Three-Fifth compromise some day. Or whip out your copy of the US Constitution and closely read Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3. It took a civil war that almost tore apart the nation to rectify. That's what those - infallible to some - founding fathers compromised on.

mythrwy 5y ago
You work with what you have. In the time you exist.
- hef19898 5y ago
  In the case some founding fathers, quite literally. Or rather who you own works for you as long as they exist.
  - disneygibson 5y ago
    If the anti-slavery states hadn’t compromised with the slave ones, the Revolution would have failed. Slavery would have likely existed longer because the British would end up being allied to the slave states (likely still colonies.) Nothing is more nauseating that modern people looking upon the past with moral superiority.
    - hef19898 5y ago
      Didn't the British abolish slavery before the US?
      - disneygibson 5y ago
        The British could abolish slavery because they no longer had any real economic incentive to keep it, as they had lost their colonies. They also then proceeded to exploit labor in India in barely better conditions. If Britain retained its American colonies (because the slave holding ones didn’t join the revolution) then abolition might not have happened at all.

hef19898 5y ago

Funny. It was the French Revolution that paved the way for modern democracies in the West. If I remember correctly, the American Revolutionary Army received quite some assistance from them. It is ironic so, the the French ended up with an Emperor so, I have to agree. Not comparing anything to Nazi Germany, but didn't the US have a pretty nasty Civil War? Also, changing things based on the whim of the population is pretty much the core believe of democracy. As long as that change is following some process and is happening peacefully. Just a disclaimer, demonstrations that end in some violence are still what I would consider "peaceful", as opposed to outright anarchy or civil wars. EDIT: Yep, the French revolution happened after the American one. The French helped the US as reaction to the Seven Year war, basically to stick it to the British. That Napoleon became Emperor was also caused by the various wars the French Republic fought against the various European monarchies. History is ironic sometimes.

matthewmorgan 5y ago
American revolution happened before the French one.
- rjsw 5y ago
  And the English revolution happened before either of them.

tlocke 5y ago

The UK is different from the USA because it doesn't have a written constitution. Then UK has a parliamentary system but the USA has a presidential system. I'd say that from a constitutional perspective the US system is most similar to the French system.

hef19898 5y ago

Ah, the "a republic isn't a democracy" trope. That debunked so often, I won't even go there here. You're right with the french revolution so. Doesn't change the fact the French supported the US a lot. And yes, the French Revolution is seen, rightly so if you ask me despite the Terror and so on, as the first real modern democracy in Europe. At a time when Europe was reigned by Kings and Emperors. A side note, I really don't get why Napoleon is seen in such bad light. His Code Civil is to this day the basis of some legal concepts, and was very progressive.

ByteJockey 5y ago
> A side note, I really don't get why Napoleon is seen in such bad light. He tried to conquer a bunch of places. That's generally not seen kindly in the modern era. Also he lost, which generally allows one's opponents to control the narrative.
- hef19898 5y ago
  Which makes you wonder how history would have turned out if Napoleon would have been as stupid to go to Russia. Imagine he would have taken the most powerful army of the time, including staunch (more or less) allies (incl. the Prussians, minor German powers, Austrians) to Spain against Wellington. Interesting what-if. Just proofs that you don't go to war with Russia or try to conquer Afghanistan.
ericmay 5y ago
> A side note, I really don't get why Napoleon is seen in such bad light. I’m really surprised that he isn’t more often seen in a bad light. He started a gigantic war, mobilized millions to expand an empire, crowned himself emperor, etc… When do we draw the line? I think as a society we are very hypocritical and nonsensical in who we venerate. People were having serious discussions about how “offensive” the Lincoln Memorial was… yet nobody is clamoring for removing statues of Napoleon? I’m just not following the logic in any of this. > Ah, the "a republic isn't a democracy" trope. That debunked so often, I won't even go there here. Debunked in what way? The founding fathers (to their shame in my view) were explicit in creating a republic system and gave only certain people such as landowners and men the right to vote. Republicanism is a form of democracy, but it stands in stark contrast to what the person you are replying to is talking about which is a “might makes right” 51-49 wins kind of democracy, which if you look at Congress the founders set up explicitly to counteract. Now, the OP may be making a mistake in terminology, but it’s very clear that the founders were against simple majority. Frankly, I have to say I am too, because a 51-49 kind of country quickly falls apart. You can see elements of that at play today.

muspimerol 5y ago

> Again, the US has never had anything remotely as horrible as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany. That’s likely a consequence of a constitutional government with limited powers. Uhhh... slavery? American Indian genocide? The Civil War? The US has certainly had things at least "remotely as horrible" as the French Revolution or Nazi Germany, although the holocaust is a bit of stretch.

DonHopkins 5y ago
Not only did America have the Civil War over slavery, but the losers are still trying to fight it today, they can't face the reality that they lost the last election, and they even tried to pull off a violent insurrection, breaking into and defecating and urinating and marching through the halls of Congress with a Confederate battle flag. https://theconversation.com/the-confederate-battle-flag-which-rioters-flew-inside-the-us-capitol-has-long-been-a-symbol-of-white-insurrection-153071 https://theconversation.com/the-confederate-battle-flag-whic... >The Confederate battle flag, which rioters flew inside the US Capitol, has long been a symbol of white insurrection >Confederate soldiers never reached the Capitol during the Civil War. But the Confederate battle flag was flown by rioters in the U.S. Capitol building for the first time ever on Jan. 6. https://nypost.com/2021/01/08/rioters-left-feces-urine-in-hallways-and-offices-during-mobbing-of-us-capitol/ https://nypost.com/2021/01/08/rioters-left-feces-urine-in-ha... >“Congressional staffers saw feces in the hallways,” the source said Friday. >The vile vandals apparently took dumps in bathrooms and then spread around their poop, a Schumer insider said. >“It came from the bathroom and they tracked it around,” the source said. “There was an intentional effort to degrade the Capitol building.” >Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) of Brooklyn also reported that some members of the mob urinated on the floors during the rampage. >“There was urine. There was clear desecration,” he told WNYC on Thursday.
- avh02 5y ago
  "infinitely [...] stable"