NB: a patronage driven protection racket is not a republic, let alone a democracy.

Yet another necessary dive into this one.

Oh Charlie, did you ever listen to Ozzie? Was he too, too much?:

So, you children of the world
Listen to what I say
If you want a better place to live in
Spread the word today
Show the world that love is still alive, you must be brave
Or you children of today are children of the grave, yeah

I, ecstatic, O partners! O lands! with the love of lovers tie you.

(Were you looking to be held together by lawyers?
Or by an agreement on a paper? or by arms?
Nay, nor the world, nor any living thing, will so cohere.)

www.gutenberg.org/files/8801/8...