It is necessary to believe in democratic government. Socialism, what is really Stalinism, is elitist at its core. Yet, people don't recognize socialism in front of their faces. They see socialism's effects all around them - the devaluing of the dollar, the manipulation of markets, the fiat destruction of their gathered wealth in their homes - and they ask for more socialism.

"Save us, O great government, from the problem you have caused. Take away our children's solvency, regulate every aspect of our economic lives, put your fingers into every last transaction we do so that we can float this house of debt-cards one more fiscal quarter."

This is how our officials get re-elected: relieving the burden, one voter at a time, of the situation they themselves have loaded on us.

Democracy is the belief that a free people, each making free choices daily, has a collective wisdom that supersedes central planning, which is no more than central coercion. Democracy is wrapped in freedom. Collective debt is only collective slaver.

The democratic idea was set up by the founders as an alternative to oppression.The world is governed in its various countries, by tyrants and oligarchies, socialist elites and militant thugs. It always has been. Those who advocate anarchy are no better; they are really advocating despotism. A power vacuum will be filled.

Only where the belief, by the people, in democracy, is strong, can this tendency toward despotism be checked. The founders rejected political parties per se because of this situation we find ourselves in now: three candidates who between them have nothing but a hair's breadth difference in how they will govern their socialist, bureaucratic dictatorship. They all three believe they and their cronies can make decisions better than free people would. I see no hope that these two parties will ever again advocate freedom for the people.