Reed Fagan’s Reviews > Democracy in America > Status Update
Reed Fagan
is on page 172 of 920
The Federal Constitution.
Just finished this long-ish chapter. T is enamored of the balance of power b/w the "confederate states" and "the Union", which in his far antebellum parlance meant purely states' rights and the federal government. IMO he sees it maybe as 60:40 states:federal. We don't see it that way now; I imagine the Civil & 2nd World Wars had much to do with that. & wish I was thrilled w/ SCOTUS as T was.
— 15 hours, 51 min ago
Just finished this long-ish chapter. T is enamored of the balance of power b/w the "confederate states" and "the Union", which in his far antebellum parlance meant purely states' rights and the federal government. IMO he sees it maybe as 60:40 states:federal. We don't see it that way now; I imagine the Civil & 2nd World Wars had much to do with that. & wish I was thrilled w/ SCOTUS as T was.
Like flag
Reed’s Previous Updates
Reed Fagan
is on page 180 of 920
Parties in the US.
"...The rich have a hearty dislike of the demcrtc instttns of their country. The people form a power which they at once fear & despise. If the maladministration of the demcrcy ever brings about a revltnry crisis & monrchcl instttns ever become practicable in the US, the truth of what I advance will become obvious. The 2 chief weapons that parties use... are the newspapers & public associations."180
— 15 hours, 6 min ago
"...The rich have a hearty dislike of the demcrtc instttns of their country. The people form a power which they at once fear & despise. If the maladministration of the demcrcy ever brings about a revltnry crisis & monrchcl instttns ever become practicable in the US, the truth of what I advance will become obvious. The 2 chief weapons that parties use... are the newspapers & public associations."180
Reed Fagan
is on page 175 of 920
Parties in the United States.
"America has had great parties, but has them no longer....The nation was divided between two opinions...the one tending to limit, the other to extend indefinitely, the power of the people. The conflict between these two opinions never assumed that degree of violence in America which it has frequently displayed elsewhere. Both parties...were agreed upon the most essential points..."-p.175
— 15 hours, 17 min ago
"America has had great parties, but has them no longer....The nation was divided between two opinions...the one tending to limit, the other to extend indefinitely, the power of the people. The conflict between these two opinions never assumed that degree of violence in America which it has frequently displayed elsewhere. Both parties...were agreed upon the most essential points..."-p.175
Reed Fagan
is on page 161 of 920
The Federal Constitution.
"The love of country, which ought to check these destructive agencies, is not stronger in a large than in a small republic. Great wealth and extreme poverty, capital cities of large size, a lax morality, selfishness, and antagonism of interests are the dangers which almost invariably arise from the magnitude of states."-p.161
— May 17, 2026 01:57PM
"The love of country, which ought to check these destructive agencies, is not stronger in a large than in a small republic. Great wealth and extreme poverty, capital cities of large size, a lax morality, selfishness, and antagonism of interests are the dangers which almost invariably arise from the magnitude of states."-p.161
Reed Fagan
is on page 152 of 920
The Federal Constitution.
"The President, who exercises a limited power, may err without causing great mischief in the state. Congress may decide amiss without destroying the Union, b/c the electoral body...may cause it to retract its decision.... But if the Supreme Court is ever composed of imprudent or bad men, the union may be plunged into anarchy or civil war."-p.152
— May 16, 2026 06:08PM
"The President, who exercises a limited power, may err without causing great mischief in the state. Congress may decide amiss without destroying the Union, b/c the electoral body...may cause it to retract its decision.... But if the Supreme Court is ever composed of imprudent or bad men, the union may be plunged into anarchy or civil war."-p.152
Reed Fagan
is on page 126 of 920
"The President is placed beside the legislature like an inferior and dependent power." - p.124
Doesn't seem so now.
— May 13, 2026 10:39AM
Doesn't seem so now.
Reed Fagan
is on page 120 of 920
The Federal Constitution.
"But in the exercise of his authority [the President] is not perfectly independent; the Senate takes cognizance of his relations with foreign powers, and of his distribution of public appointments, so that he can neither corrupt nor be corrupted." -p.121
Oh, really? 🤦
— May 12, 2026 04:16PM
"But in the exercise of his authority [the President] is not perfectly independent; the Senate takes cognizance of his relations with foreign powers, and of his distribution of public appointments, so that he can neither corrupt nor be corrupted." -p.121
Oh, really? 🤦
Reed Fagan
is on page 120 of 920
The Federal Constitution.
I don't believe I learned hitherto that the object of forming the Senate was to preserve the states' authority while that of forming the House was to preserve the nation's authority. Hence all states have equal representation in the Senate. Very interesting. T acknowledges this division isn't "logical" but it serves to act as yet another check on power.
— May 12, 2026 04:03PM
I don't believe I learned hitherto that the object of forming the Senate was to preserve the states' authority while that of forming the House was to preserve the nation's authority. Hence all states have equal representation in the Senate. Very interesting. T acknowledges this division isn't "logical" but it serves to act as yet another check on power.
Reed Fagan
is on page 112 of 920
Political Jurisdiction in the US.
American "political jurisdiction...[may be]...the most formidable weapon [ever] placed in the grasp of a majority. When the American republics begin to degenerate, [we can test if this is true by] whether the number of political impeachments is increased." -p111
T lauds that impchmnt means poltcns face only pol. consqncs. In France it's also always crimnl, thus less likely to be used
— May 11, 2026 06:04PM
American "political jurisdiction...[may be]...the most formidable weapon [ever] placed in the grasp of a majority. When the American republics begin to degenerate, [we can test if this is true by] whether the number of political impeachments is increased." -p111
T lauds that impchmnt means poltcns face only pol. consqncs. In France it's also always crimnl, thus less likely to be used
