we have till the end of the week.

Actually what we have is a representative form of democracy.
At least that is what the founding fathers wanted us to have.
The supreme power vested in the people and exercised by them (us) directly or indirectly through a system of representation through elections.
Just a few weeks ago I voted on a number of state and local issues directly .

There was an old joke about the six old men who met for coffee each morning. The bill was like $6. One guy chipped in $3, four guys chipped in $.75 and the two poorest got their coffee free. Things went well until the dinner owner cut the bill to $5 because they were 7 day a week customers. The one guy chipped in $2.40, and four guys chipped in $.65 and the other two got their coffee free.

They got in a fight because the one guy got by with $.60 savings, while the others only saved a dime, and the two guys saved nothing, and they beat up on the rich guy.

He quit coming to coffee. They could not afford to have coffee anymore. I have the numbers all wrong but the idea is the same.....

The reason that socialist-democracy (wealth re-distribution via taxes by government) will not and cannot survive "forever" is because the rich will leave (and they are the only ones who can afford to). The remaining folks, who have voted themselves "booty" from the government treasury, will not be able to pay and the system will collapse. There will always be poor countries who would love to have the jobs created by businesses, and they will do all they can with tax incentives for the businesses, in order to get the jobs. Not at all unlike tax incentives that cities give when trying to "steal" a business from the town they are currently in. (IE the move of Boeing from Seattle to Chicago), or Microsoft to Ireland and to China, or of GM to Canada and Mexico. (GM has more production employees in Canada than in the US, and soon will have more in Mexico than in the US. In the long term a GM will be an "import". Why? Not greed my friends, but TO SURVIVE!!!!

Just my opinion.

Our country was formed as a republic. The federal Government was small and weak. Only some people could vote. Primarily property was the asset taxed by the federal Government. Only MALE land owners could vote.

Do not blame our current form of Government on our founding fathers. The founders led a rebellion against a government like ours.

Poor don't stay poor because of laziness, it is because of bad decisions. If you are 25 and have 3 kids while making MW, and you still go out drinking a few days a week, buy a big screen TV, 24" gold wheels & a bumping sound system, you will stay poor and most likely so will your kids:(
How is it that someone can legally come to this country with no money, but become a successful business owner within just a few years???

Diamonds sewed into his coat lining.

We have till my next prediction?

More than a republic.
The founders did not freeze the form but laid out a process.
They allowed for increasing inclusion and participation.

But I agree the current form is corrupted.

However "The Government" is not to blame , WE are.
This corrupt form continues because we allow whichever party we believe can do no wrong get away with bad governance and bad economic and military policy and waste and corruption and figure that it doesn't matter as long as we get our turn at the trough. Hooray for me F- you .

If no-one cleans up their own room the house will be a mess.

Still , not sure much can be done.
I saw "No country For Old Men" the other night and there were some great lines.
To misquote ;

"It's just the tide rising"
and
"You can't think that it's just coming for you - that would be vanity"

I'll admit that it's rare when i can actually see eye to eye with something you say racer, but in my opinion you got a bulls eye on that one.