From Investment Research Dynamics

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, someone asked Ben Franklin: “have we got a Republic or a Monarchy?”  To which Dr. Franklin replied, “A Republic – if you can keep it.”  – from the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Convention

A “Republic” is defined as a State in which the supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives.  The critical foundation of a Republic is Rule of Law.  When a person or group of people transcend the Rule of Law, and therefore “rise above” the sovereign power, a Republic no longer exists.

The Republic to which Ben Franklin referred no longer exists in the United States.  It’s debatable as to when the Republic status was lost, but the fact that Rule of Law has transformed into Rule of Man is not debatable.   The…