In its early days, the United States was beset by rumours about plots to install a monarchy. Thankfully, in George Washington it had a president who understood the power of precedent. He removed his general’s uniform and gave up power after two terms. Thus was sealed the world’s most enduring republic. More than 200 years later, the US is bracing for the most dynastic contest in its history. The chances that either Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush will become its 45th president are high. The country’s elections are far more democratic than in Washington’s day. But there are grounds to worry that America is becoming less of a republic.
建國之初，美國盛傳有人密謀要建立一個君主制國家。值得慶幸的是，美國有懂得先例威力的喬治•華盛頓(George Washington)擔任首任總統。他脫去了總司令的軍服，並在兩屆任期結束後自願放棄了權力。就這樣，世界上生命力最持久的共和國誕生了。200多年後的今天，美國正迎來其史上最有「王朝政治」氣息的一場競選。美國第45任總統有極大可能將是希拉蕊•柯林頓(Hillary Clinton)和傑布•布希(Jeb Bush)之中的一個。如今美國的選舉比華盛頓時代民主得多。但今天我們卻有理由擔心，美國作爲共和國將變得不那麼純粹。