Democracy in America

Been reading Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy in America. With every page he has tremendous insight into America. I love his geographic description of America as the book begins. Describing the land as one great valley that drains into the Father of Rivers...even the Mississippi.

His discussion on the judiciary system in the United States is fascinating because he talks of it's political power and yet of it's passive attributes.

That is, the judiciary cannot act on it's own, it must be engaged to act. Tocqueville's clear reasoning on our judiciary system could almost be considered as an outline on how the judiciary can be controlled and misused for political purpose. Though that is not what he intended, clearly that is what has happened in our time. The collusive pairing of activist judges and special interests is most definitely the easiest way for minority interests to control the laws for the majority.

I'm currently reviewing Tocqueville's writings on Federalism where he points out that "Small nations have therefore ever been the cradle of Liberty". But that large nations provide physical strength, which means security.

He points out that Federalism provides both advantages. I wish for every student in school that they could read "Democracy in America". Such an easy read, such clear thinking, such marvelous statements on how and why our system works. How is it that I did not read this in my own schooling?