Over the years, I have heard or seen countless statements from conservatives, Republicans, etc. about the United States as a “republic, not a democracy.” This theory holds that republics are not supposed to be democratic, which is erroneous, and that republics are supposed to be fully privatized, which is insane. “Republic” comes from res publica, Latin for “public thing.”

The tea party wants government to fail. They have wanted Obama to fail, reform to fail, and now the republic. They are not patriots, no matter their freak flag.