“It is the inevitable course of all democracies to die.” Not my words but those of one of our founding fathers, President Adams. As we approach the 227th celebration of Independence, it is important to take a step back and examine why some of the world’s former great powers that had a form of democracy ended in ashes. Why is it that Athens and Rome democratic experiments failed and that it was almost a thousand years before democracy was tried again in the world? Why is it that democracy has not just survived in the United States of America but become a source of inspiration for self-government in other nations? The U.S. is at best a teenage nation compared to other countries, but leads from the head seat at the table of democracy. Here are five ways democracy can be lost.
• Openly put political power solely in the hands of the rich. Rome’s senators came exclusively from the patrician, ancient and wealthy families. The lack of understanding of every day problems and concerns, set the stage for Julius Caesar to use his knowledge of the crowd and bring the end of Rome’s democratic attempt.
• Allow bribery and corruption to go unpunished. Rome’s senators were limited to what they could openly own, so as not to influence their decisions in deciding what was best for the republic. Most found ways around this with silent partnerships and took payments from merchants to sway themselves on votes regarding contracts, government support and taxes. It was the common majority that suffered and had their resentment turned against the men elected.
• Allow tradition to make government inflexible. Both the Greeks and Romans allowed their governments to stagnate, wrapped in tradition, when changes came they were so dramatic that the process eventually killed the government.
• Lose faith. When the people no longer feel their vote counts, that their desires are no longer a concern and have no recourse. First they accept the process as business as usual. A period of general apathy towards fixing problems sets in while the radicals organize. The democracy then dies from lack of interest or falls to a popular radical to be made dictator.
• Over-extend. Both Athens and Rome had scattered their leaders and people so far that when things began to go bad, some of their best and brightest chose to stay away in comfort rather than attempt a winless fight. If Rome had not exiled so many leaders in the decades prior to Caesar’s return, he might have been kept in check.
History shows it takes bloodshed and the desire of many to build a free democratic form of government. It takes the apathy, resentment and distrust of many to allow that government to fall and die. When Athens died, education, science and literature fell with it. While Rome continued on as an empire, it was doomed to die as a dictatorship and when it did, the following five hundred years of chaos, decay and lawlessness were termed the Dark Ages, the end of the Golden Age.
The United States thrived in the Industrial Age, led the way into the Information Age. How will it continue? What will we need to change to continue as a government for the people and by the people? The answer is mine, yours, your friends and your neighbors if they choose to use their voice.

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