It’s September 1787, and the founding fathers are battling over what form of government the new nation will have. Among the big issues being debated is whether to give the right to vote to all citizens or only to those who are educated and of standing. Such a notion is not simply elitism. It stems from a genuine concern for the healthy stewardship of the country. Some of the founding fathers believe that the masses are either too ignorant, too apathetic, or don’t possess the inclination for critical thinking necessary to choose the best leaders.

Ben Franklin argues strongly that all must have the right to vote if the government is to have legitimacy. Franklin wins his argument. On leaving the Convention he is asked by a bystander what, form of government have we, a republic or a monarchy. To which Franklin replies, "A republic, if you can keep it".

It’s September 2008. I used to believe in the hypothesis that a greater net intelligence emerges from the many individual lesser ones when we have national election. I have come to doubt that hypothesis. I've come to wonder whether Americans have become so profoundly ignorant and lazy that it has become impossible for a greater net intelligence to emerge from our elections. Have we reached those cross-roads Franklin warned us of more than 200 years ago?

Does the sort of dumbing down dynamic we have seen over the last several election cycles signal something very deeply disturbing about the character of our nation? This subject has, of course, been written about in books such as, ‘What’s the matter with Kansas’. My thoughts are that this is indeed a deeply disturbing reflection of our citizenry.

Our politicians are a reflection of us. We say we don’t like negative politics yet we do respond to it. Politicians understand that, which is why they continue with it. Was it Jefferson who said that, a democracy gets the leaders it deserves? Or, paraphrasing Jefferson, if our government sucks it’s because we suck.

This year, I feel that we are witnessing a truly frightening experiment by the Republicans. They are freely and openly showing their cynicism and contempt for voters. How else do we explain their blatant shameless and repeated lying over the ‘bridge to nowhere’ It no longer matters that the press directly calls them out on their lying, they apparently have great faith in the overriding ignorance and weak thinking skills of voters. I wonder, however, if the truth isn’t actually worse than that. I wonder if such ignorance is willful.

I suspect that the majority of voters can find the facts, and can recognize a lie when they’re told one, it’s just that they don't want to. Lies are often sweet while the truth often bland. This Republican experiment in cynicism and contempt is the polar opposite to the experiment Obama is running.

Obama is betting that enough of us do care, that we will find the facts and make the right choices for the future of the nation. Those who get angry with Obama for not fighting like the Republicans forget that essential aspect of his candidacy. Obama himself calls it his bet on the American people, but it is also an experiment which may determine the outlook for our republic. Will we have a republic, or a monarchy (of a kind)?

If the GOP’s experiment succeeds, and McCain /Palin elected, Franklin’s 200 year old warning will have come about. If so, can the dramatic waning, if not fall, of our nation be far behind?

Thanks, to, Lux Umbra Dei, for suggesting I expand a comment in to this thread topic.