and to the republic, for which it stands…

“I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the republic, for which it stands…”

Those were the words we spoke when I was a child in grade school.  I can’t recall when I stopped saying it, but I think it was somewhere around middle school.  We all know the words.  But, do we all know what they mean?

“…and to the republic, for which it stands”  What does that mean? 

Here’s a little government lesson.  We do not live in a democracy.  That is how we elect people to public office, not how we govern.  We govern through a representative form of government (republic) that allows these people who we elect to represent us, to vote on our behalf in all forms of government.

Why is this important?  These people who represent us are sworn to uphold the values of The Constitution.  The bulk of The Constitution tackles the issues of individual rights, not rights of the majority, or majority rule. 

The Constitution doesn’t say if the majority wants it, that’s the law.  In fact, it protects us from that kind of thinking.  Otherwise, there would be anarchy.

What is going on in California right now, with Proposition 8, does not belong in the election booth, but the courts.  The determination of who can and can’t get married seems silly to me.  Marriage, in the government’s eyes,  is an economic unit, something to tax, similar to a corporation. 

It’s interesting how Iowa, a staunchly conservative state with a less vocal gay population, but probably statistically similar, can get this figured out.  But, you know, Iowan’s are practical.  What happens in your house is none of my business.  It’s kind of refreshing, isn’t it?