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Edinnajetovic

Listed below are comments made by Edinnajetovic between Tuesday, 28th October 2008 and Tuesday, 28th October 2008.

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A Land of Hope 11:53am on 28 Oct 2008 to #10 and #14

As Peter said, democracy itself is not a form of government per se and democracy predates the US constitution by several thousand years. Even its chief claim to fame -its secular republic based on civil liberties and a seperation of powers and checks and balances- is a direct consequence of developments in Europe.

The Dutch republic predates the US and can be seen as a spiritual precursor in many ways. It did not answer to a king or directly to a religious chief and was often wary of the influence of military men. It guaranteed civil liberties and economic freedoms and so on.

The only innovation that can truly be called American is, I think, twofold. First and foremost they were a colony rising up against their masters and won their freedom, being the first to do so. This is a pride that is I think at the base of US national identity. Second, the codification of all enlightenment ideals in a single political document, as a sharp break with the uncodified European historically evolved systems, is indeed a great achievement. But it follows cleanly from their victorious war of independence.

The ideas in the constitution were not new at the time, they had been smouldering for decades. The only new thing in there was the adoption of these ideas which had been adopted on and off around Europe in uncodified form.

In essence, while European countries pride themselves with long histories of constant struggle with neighbours, whereas the US prides itself on its 'pioneer mentality'. In truth, the USA are a young nation, and it shows. They have the exuberance of youth, with all the pros and cons that come with it.

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