John Adam's Quote on Democracy

                John Adam’s famous quote saying, “Democracy ... while it lasts, is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” was a very true statement. I believe the quote made by John Adams was a very descriptive and specific way to describe democracy. As the people of the United States, we are lucky that our democracy still exists today. If the democracy continues on for many more years in our country, which at this point it appears it will, I think that it will become bloodier than an aristocracy or monarchy would normally be.

            Democracy has been our country’s form of government for many years, and has both benefited and harmed us. Obviously it benefits us majorly because people have the power and get to make decisions. Personally, I think that democracy is the best form of government a country can have. However, a democracy also has negative effects. Democracy can cause a lot of arguments and disagreements because people have different viewpoints on subjects, and in a democracy people have the right to state their beliefs. If people can’t compromise, arguments can go back and forth for long periods of time, and sometimes get out of hand. If this occurs for too long, it makes it more likely for a democracy to break down and eventually “commit suicide” according to John Adams.

On the other hand, if you have a monarchy or aristocracy, the people don’t get to make the decisions and must accept the decisions that are instead made by powerful leaders. In these government systems, people may be unhappy, but they can’t argue with each other about what should or should not be done because that decision is made by one powerful ruler. I don’t think that monarchies and aristocracies are a better form of government, but I do think that they are more likely to last longer and be less bloody than a democracy is.

I believe that John Adam’s quote was a very interesting way to explain democracies. Although a democracy does benefit us in many ways, it brings negative effects with it. I believe that Adams is right when he said that democracies are bloody. However, our democracy hasn’t broken down yet, and I think it will continue to run for many years to come. As it continues, it may become bloodier than it currently is.