Re: OT: For information only !

This is, in my estimation, largely correct, except that the United
States are not and never have been legally a democracy. The United
States, as the name implies, are a federation of States, much like the
European Union, but 150 years further down the road: the federal
government has largely usurped sovereignty from the States, by making
war against them, nationalizing the organized militia, imposing the
income tax, and preventing the States from appointing their own senators
(War of Southern Independence, National Guard, and Amendments XVI and
XVII). This is what the EU is headed for, if it remains intact.

I know this is way, way, off topic, and will probably get me flamed, but
I have to say something when I encounter any discussion about these things.

-Aaron Grahn
ROMANI
 ITE
DOMUM


Joe wrote:

> But as I've said already, France doesn't obey this rule.  The US is the
> only state that (to my knowledge) claims to have a 'Congress' rather
> than a Parliament.  I think Nik's right in that the difference is purely
> historical.  I'd assume that the US Congress was named after the
> Continental Congresses  - Which evolved from a coming together of heads
> of states, to an appointed leigslative body, again representing the
> states(Under the Articles of Confederation), to a democratic legislative
> body(under the US constitution).  But, it's still a Parliament.