[muawiyah]

The fellows making all those predictions didn't have much knowledge of democracies ~ at that time. They didn't know if they failed ~ in fact, in their consideration of democratic process they imagined a permanent majority would pop into existence and begin looting the republic.

Actually, the single member district and it's 50%+1 long term winning standard pretty much eliminates that problem. Alas for the Founders, they didn't have much knowledge of democracy so they blew it. In fact they thought men of property and education would always elect good men to office so they didn't really think that far ahead to the time when there'd be no slaves, and everybody could read and write.

[The Antiyuppie]

You can reach further back into history for the demise of this “democracy” (actually, a democratic republic) to the direct election of senators.

I noticed that a congressman pointed out this week that many voters aren’t “invested” in America.

I don’t think property ownership and/or a voter test are in and of themselves outrageous ideas. There is no other aspect of society where “everyone is equal” EXCEPT for voting.