By the time of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, there were still those who thought that America should be a monarchy, with George Washington as king. It is said that as the delegates left at the close of the Convention, a woman approached Ben Frankln and asked him, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Without pausing, Franklin responded, "A republic madam, if, you can keep it." Now, more than at any other time in my life, I sometimes wonder if we can.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken