Tim VeArd sent this to me. I normally don’t post or email such things, but this one is so non-partisan and clear that I believe it should be seen by as many of our citizens as possible.  Since submariners are citizens of the first order, I hope you find it proper to post here as well. 

Tim says "This is a remarkably fascinating piece. It's the very best analysis and the clearest explanation I've ever seen of the forms of government. It's especially important vis-a-vis what's been happening to our country in more recent years. Every American, young and old, should understand this lesson if the United States is to survive. Pay particular attention to the fall of the Roman Empire and why it fell. Does it sound familiar?"

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment

I think we are actually a constitutional republic.  Our system works, more or less, because it tries to balances the interests of the powerful political class, the powerful social elite and the vast middle class through our system of laws (checks and balances).  It is the countervailing forces at work between these three forces that provides a sounder and more stable government.  It is messy and runs to extremes on occasion, but it seems to be the best system of governance that has evolved here in the west.  It is when it runs to extremes in any direction that we must, as a people, be vigilant and push back.