By name, most folks may not recognize Elizabeth Powel from American History. Her identity is revealed when we realize Elizabeth Powel was the woman in a bonnet met by Benjamin Franklin on a grassy hill after the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention. She asked, "Sir, what have you given us? A monarchy, or a republic?"
Franklin responded, "A republic, ma'am, if you can keep it."
In our quest as Americans to save our republic, we have become content in participating only in the part of our system that more resembles democracy. We vote, then kick up our feet at home, and complain. That is what people do in a pure democracy. We do not have a democracy. We have a republic.