Zone1 America is not a democracy its a republic ?

[Flopper]

We are a democraticly elected Republic of States.

Think of each State as it's own entity, belonging to a collective.

States Rights are the key to our Constitution.

As written, the States have the right to tell DC to pound sand.

The states are republics because the state government is elected by the people of the state. They are sovereign states but they share their sovereignty with the federal government.

 

[sparky]

specific fundamentals which are involved. Gawdammit...

Unfortunately most view governance as 'what's in it for me' , w/out realizing those fundamentals have a collectivist effect Natty

~S~

 

[PeterPilot]

As a form of government democracy, where each citizen has a vote in all government actions died with Ancient Greece simple because it is impossible to implement in a large nation. Attempts to do so has resulted in anarchy.

However, democratic principles are certainly applicable today in which the people have direct representation in government. It took over 120 years but the United States has become a democratic republic as have many nations.

At least we have the illusion of a democratic republic. Certainly many people believe that and MSM constantly promotes the illusion. In reality we have a fascist plutocracy.

 

[Flopper]

At least we have the illusion of a democratic republic. Certainly many people believe that and MSM constantly promotes the illusion. In reality we have a fascist plutocracy.

It is certainly truth that the wealthy can have an inordinate amount of power. Two facts to keep mind is that all the wealthy do not share common political beliefs and some very wealthy people have little or no interest in politics. I find it remarkable that neither the Left nor Right has been able to control the country that long.

In 30's, the country went left and stayed that way till the early 50s.
Then the country went right for nearly a decade. The left owned 60's
The 70's were a mixed bad.
Then in the 80's the country went right remained so till early 90s
Then country swung to left and then right.
Obama takes office and country swings left
Till Trump takes power and the country swings right followed by Biden and the country swings left.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

A true democracy would allow its citizens to vote on EVERYTHING! We have a constitutional republic, which means that we elect representatives to vote for us.

When the quarterly budget comes up, US citizens dont get to vote on it. When they bring up an immigration bill, we dont get to vote on it. Congress and the Senate do the voting.

I think that is too sweeping a statement. Our parties produce manifestos before the elcrtion setting out their agenda. We vote for them or not. That is democratic.
I dont want to vote on everything. And I think that in many cases it is too complicated for ordinary folk to understand. The brexit referendum is a case in point.
But the Uk is a democracy. Whether it is a "true" democracy is probably a debate more centred on the voting system rather than if we all vote on everything.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

I think the appropriate description is democratic republic. However names don’t mean much. Some of the most oppressive governments in the world claim to be democratic republics. As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding.

We measure how democratic an election is based on what percent of the adult population votes and the effect the voting has on leadership and policy.

China claims to be a democratic republic. However, voting is so indirect and the choices on the ballot insure that the communist party will always control the government, their claim to be a democratic republic is a sham.

East Germany was called the German Democratic Republic without much evidence of democracy or a Republic.
We get too hung up on labels. We should look at what went on. Hitler was never a socialist.

 

[Flopper]

East Germany was called the German Democratic Republic without much evidence of democracy or a Republic.
We get too hung up on labels. We should look at what went on. Hitler was never a socialist.

Yep and
North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

What country calls it has little bearing on it what is.

East Germany was called the German Democratic Republic without much evidence of democracy or a Republic.
We get too hung up on labels. We should look at what went on. Hitler was never a socialist.

I think the United States is one of the most democratic republics in the world today but it sure didn't start out that way.

 

[PeterPilot]

Yep and
North Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

What country calls it has little bearing on it what is.


I think the United States is one of the most democratic republics in the world today but it sure didn't start out that way.

With that post about how democratic the US is, I suppose you're one of those who believe that Russia blew up its own Nordstream, and you believe the election of 2020 was legit.

 

[Libby von H]

It's a reactionary response from the usual authoritarian and/or fascist contingent here in America.

There is nothing it could be reacting against. There are good and bad democracies, good and bad republics.
How can you say otherwise Maybe you've been reading Fukayama and think no one on here would know so you might as well crib his opinions and see if you can pass them off as your own

 

[Tommy Tainant]

With that post about how democratic the US is, I suppose you're one of those who believe that Russia blew up its own Nordstream, and you believe the election of 2020 was legit.

In the real world the election is legit. In the right wing echo chamber maybe not.