“Citizenship is what makes a republic; monarchies can get along without it. What keeps a republic on its legs is good citizenship”
-Mark Twain, Layman’s Sermon (speech)

The foundation of a Republican Democracy is the active participation of its citizenry.

Without the informed, concerned, and active interest of the populace for the public execution of government and power, that power naturally consolidates, like a funnel, toward the narrow bottom.

The question then becomes, what is the state of our Republic today, and what are you going to do about it?

…a man who keeps company with glaciers comes to feel tolerably insignificant by and by. The Alps and the glaciers together are able to take every bit of conceit out of a man and reduce his self-importance to zero if he will only remain within the influence of their sublime presence long enough to give it a fair and reasonable chance to do its work.
– Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad

Does a man’s self-importance shrink along with the glaciers, even as his foolishness grows?

“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”
-Mark Twain

The question then becomes whether it is better that he keep his mouth shut, or open it and talk. Perhaps it really doesn’t make any difference. Either way it’s maddening to anyone that attempts a maintenance of sanity and fidelity to the truth.

“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”
-Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger

To laugh at what wishes to threaten us is to take from it all power to do so. However, in some cases you may still need to run.