We Are Not a Democracy

I was strolling through Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia when I encountered a very loud group of high school students who did not speak English but were having a grand time in front of the Colonial Governor’s Palace.

After making a few inquiries with the adults, I found out from one of their American chaperones from D.C. that they were Pacific Islanders who were sponsored by the Department of Interior via the NGO Close Up with the idea to teach them about our American “democracy.”

Talking to one of the educator chaperones from the Pacific Islands, I emphasized the fact that we are not a democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic with elected representatives who are to abide by our Constitution. She was naïve and did not understand that facet of our Constitutional Republic.

The Close Up Foundation advertises itself as a “nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization in Washington, D.C.” Established in 1971by Stephen A. Janger, Close Up is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. President and CEO is Timothy S. Davis, Esq. The foundation had a revenue of $28,706,197 (2014) and expenses of $27,846,081 (2014). The revenue for 2025 is $39,919,109. Datanyze reveals slightly different numbers. Close Up Foundation Company Profile | Management and Employees List

The website claims that since 1971, more than one million students and educators participated in Close Up programs “to inspire young people to find their unique voice and help them develop the skills and awareness they need to be engaged citizens for life.” They are expected to interact with people, places, and institutions to “discover how your voice can make an impact on American democracy.” Again, we are not a democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic. Washington DC Student Programs & Resources | Close Up Foundation

“Using the city as a living classroom, Close Up’s Washington, D.C., trip allows high school students to make personal connections with the people and institutions that embody our nation’s past and present.”

“Close Up’s once-in-a-lifetime program opportunities are designed to inspire and empower students to become active participants in our democracy. With the help of our program instructors, students experience history and government, consider a variety of viewpoints on important current issues, and build the skills of engaged citizenship.” Close Up's Washington D.C. Trip for High School Students

Close Up Foundation hosts programs for students and teachers from all 50 states, Abu Dhabi, American Samoa, Canada, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Curacao, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Republic of Palau, and the United State Virgin Islands.

The educational idea is laudable, but should we be using Department of the Interior money to fund these trips, including expensive plane tickets? The elements of American civics are taught in every high school in the nation; we do not need the taxpayer expense to fund these trips to expose outsiders to our American “democracy.”