It is Not Democracy That is Under Threat

Seeing the phrase “democracy is under threat” so much recently got me thinking. Would the founders have understood what it meant?

The index of my copy of The Adams — Jefferson Letters, which purports to contain the “complete correspondence” between Jefferson and Abigail & John Adams, does not contain an entry for the word democracy. There are hundreds of letters in the volume. I have not read all of them. The index could be incorrect, but based on the number of entries, it seems unlikely. There are also no entries for the words suffrage and vote.

There was some discussion of the Constitution between the two. Adams wrote Jefferson on November 10, 1787, updating him on the conclusion of the Constitutional convention. Adams wrote: “I think that Senates and Assemblies should have nothing to do with executive Power”. He also asked Jefferson: “What think you of a Declaration of Rights?” There was no discussion of “democracy” in the letter.

Jefferson responded three days later. Adams was in London and Jefferson in Paris, and they often had acquaintances or curriers handle delivery of their correspondence. Jefferson responded with concern about the Presidency as he understood it. He wrote: “Reason and experience prove to us that a chief magistrate, so continuable, is an officer for life.” Before this he noted the term of four years and that there was no limit to how many times one could be re-elected. Again, no discussion of democracy or voting.

In a January 11, 1816 letter to John Adams, Jefferson wrote about the minor progress of representative government in Europe and his hope that it takes hold. This was part of a general review of the 18th century and the progress man had made when compared to earlier centuries. Representative government has democratic principles and some voting, but it is not the same as calling a government or system a democracy.

The early history of voting in the country and the Constitution itself show the founders were not enamored with democracy. Unlike today, there were strict qualifications to be able to vote, limiting who could vote. As well, two key elements of the Constitution severely restricted democracy.

The president and senators in each state were not elected based on a direct vote. The president is selected by electors known as the electoral college. This still exists today and those who say our democracy is at risk, would like to see it eliminated. Senators were elected by the state legislatures. This changed in 1913 with the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

The people who say democracy is under threat want Puerto Rico and Washington DC to be states. They also want to do away with the electoral College. They don’t even hide it. Take the Brennon Center for Justice for example:

“Similarly, the Senate results have all but ended talk of adding the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to the union. That means the Senate will continue to give small states, which tend to be rural and conservative, far more clout than their size deserves.”

No. Democracy is not under threat. The threat is to what is left of the original Federal Republic.