Okay, I Give Up

I can't do two. So I'm back to one--and those who aren't interested in my political views can (*ahem*) MoveOn. Dot . . . well, you know. Besides, my politics are part of who I am. Love me, little lamb, or leave me.

SO . . .
I was talking to Casey and the kids about our government system and how the founding fathers set things up, and my son piped in--"You're wrong, Mommy. My social studies teacher says we are a democracy."

Silence, while I counted to ten (at the rage building because my son's teacher doesn't even know the difference between a DEMOCRACY and a REPUBLIC), and then I (semi-calmly) began to argue with him. The little stinker was immovable at first--I don't know if it is the pre-teen "Mom doesn't know squat" thing he has going on, or the "Teachers always know everything," but he was set. My husband entered the fray, saying, "Well, I always thought we were a democracy, too."

I looked at him with my mouth open--he had been a elementary teacher for seven years! (To be fair, he taught 1st grade, so they probably didn't get into government, but STILL! What are they teaching teachers?) I got a glass of water and then began to explain the difference--a democracy is rule by the majority, whereas a republic is rule by the law--in our case, the laws set forth by the Constitution. To convince my son further, I found this GREAT video, which explains the different governments. We all watched it together, both my boy and my husband had bright light bulbs appear over their heads, and we are now a fully informed, happy-to-live-in-a-republic group again.

Give it a look; pass it on to your KIDS, because they may not be getting it in school.
Peace out.