To paraphrase:
As the story goes, one of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, walked out of "Freedom Hall" on that illustrious day in 1776, and was asked:
"Mr Franklin, what kind of government have you given us?"
He replied,
"A Republic, Madam...If you can keep it!"

Unfortunately we have digressed from a "Republic" to, in most peoples minds, A"Democracy".
A democracy can only exist as long as "the people" do not realize that they can vote for themselves the treasury and it's contents. It will only last as long as folks don't realize that in a "democracy" the majority rules. And the rules change with the wind! Whatever the current thought is, is the current majority.
A Republic puts certain folks in the drivers seat, so to speak. I elect you to speak for me... You elect "so and so", to speak for us, the "so and so's' elect X to speak for all of us. i.e. a president.
Did we have a popular election to place George Washington in the position of President? NO! The Congress installed him as President. The Congress. My God.....do you realize that the people that are being put into office have no alligence to YOU, the voter? Do they care about YOU. NO! They only care about themselves and those who bought them into office.
A good example is Gordon Smith (R?) OR. This fellow . . . . well, he is supposed to be a Republican, that is, Conservative (up to a point) however, he has cast his lot with the socialists and is no longer a representative of the folks who put him in office.
If you look at the State of Oregon, about 90% is conservative by area, but the Portland-Metro area, and including Eugene and Ashland, turn the state into a liberal heap. 10 % of the square miles of the state, and it is a BIG state, determine what happens. This state is going down the tubes. It used to be that Trees were the major industry. OOPS. An owl destroyed THAT industry. Actually, it wasn't the owl, it was the people that used that owl. The supposed "spotted owl" is in actuality, not a separate species as was put forth by those who were bent on destroying the logging industry in the PNW.
Yes, that is my accusation. It is only part of the (Huh...I sound like some Conspiracy Theorist) absolute attempt to destroy the US and all it stands for.
Ruin local industry nationwide, send manufacturing overseas where it is less expensive thus lowering the cost of operations. IT IS THE GOVERNMENT WHO HAS ALLOWED, NO, ENCOURAGED THIS through taxes as well as NAFTA, CAFTA........Jeeez.....just look this stuff up. It's right here on the Internet.
I will post internet sites that will help to put this info into perspective.