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The U.S. is a Republic not a democracy!
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Author:  Professor No [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:31 pm ]
Post subject:  The U.S. is a Republic not a democracy!
I hear people all the time calling the U.S.A. a democracy its a Republic. Some people will say America is a "repersenative democracy" well,its not and here's some proof. The Pledge of Allegiance, "and to the republic for which..." Also this quote from Pres. Thomas Jefferson "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." Does that sound like what one of the founders of a democracy would say. Ok, I just wanted to inform everyone that the U.S. is a Republic.
Author:  InterruptorJones [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Maybe you should check your handy pocket dictionary. There's not anything in the definition of "republic" that's incompatible with the definition of "democracy".

Actually, according to Merriam-Webster, it looks like republics and democracies go great together:
Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Law wrote:
Main Entry: re·pub·lic
Function: noun
  1. a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president; also : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government
  2. a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law; also : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government
Main Entry: de·moc·ra·cy
Function: noun
  1. a. government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b. a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
  2. a political unit that has a democratic government


Hmm. Led by a non-monarch president? Check. Government exercised indirectly by the people? Check.

So what's your problem?
Author:  StrongCanada [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
Actually, I learned in university (I loved college - can you tell?) that there was a difference....I'll be back when I find the exact definitions and everything!

But, for practical purposes, KC408, while I see your point, the English language is so butchered already...many words that actually mean something different are often used incorrectly, but everyone tends to accept the contemporary meaning.

......Canada's a constitutional monarchy....just so ya know.

*goes off searching*
Author:  Tom [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wikipedia: "Democracy" versus "republic"

An interesting read.
Author:  Professor No [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes,I do know that Canada is a constitutional monarchy because the Queen of England is the Head of State of Canada and since the UK is a constitutional monarchy it means that Canada is a constitutional monarchy.

Also, the Webster Dictionary is changed over time to reflect the current meanings as it relates to the culture of the time.

One more thing Ben Franklin was asked after the constitutional convention "what have you wrought us?" he responded "a republic if you can keep it."
Author:  InterruptorJones [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kc408 wrote:
One more thing Ben Franklin was asked after the constitutional convention "what have you wrought us?" he responded "a republic if you can keep it."


And? You still haven't explained to us how the fact that the U.S. is a republic somehow means that it can't be a democracy.
Author:  Professor No [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
There are supposedly two types of democracy direct and indirect America is a indirect democracy well you see the phrase indirect or repersenative democracy is made up. It is the politicaly correct way of saying Republic because some people want to cover up the fact America is a Republic. Why cover it up well it is too long to explain but i can give you this... "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics." Plato
Author:  Didymus [ Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Plato's political system varies drastically from the one we have today.
Author:  Tom [ Wed Aug 18, 2004 12:55 am ]
Post subject: 
Kc408 wrote:
There are supposedly two types of democracy direct and indirect America is a indirect democracy well you see the phrase indirect or repersenative democracy is made up. It is the politicaly correct way of saying Republic because some people want to cover up the fact America is a Republic. Why cover it up well it is too long to explain but i can give you this... "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics." Plato

Supposedly? Politically correct? Cover it up? What? I'm not following.
Author:  Professor No [ Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cover up is not the right word but it is P.C. So, why are some people trying to make that the U.S. is a Republic. Well, its the electoral collage, some want the popular vote to decide the election. Once again I go back Thomas Jefferson "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." Class Warfare! You, see the was once only type of democracy, "direct". Now the is a type of democracy called repersenative a.k.a Republic. These people plan to turn America into a direct democracy so they can use class warfare to take the presidental election. Who? Well, its many people many democracts, some republicans and others. No, this isn't a conspircy. :usa:
Author:  Didymus [ Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
I like sporks.
Author:  AgentSeethroo [ Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Didymus wrote:
I like sporks.


Me too. Titanium ones.
Author:  StrongRad [ Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kc408 wrote:
You, see the was once only type of democracy, "direct". Now the is a type of democracy called repersenative a.k.a Republic. These people plan to turn America into a direct democracy so they can use class warfare to take the presidental election. Who? Well, its many people many democracts, some republicans and others. No, this isn't a conspircy.

in the words of nobody's favorite person, Lil Jon: "WHAT!?!?!?"
Author:  Tom [ Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kc408 wrote:
Cover up is not the right word but it is P.C. So, why are some people trying to make that the U.S. is a Republic. Well, its the electoral collage, some want the popular vote to decide the election. Once again I go back Thomas Jefferson "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." Class Warfare! You, see the was once only type of democracy, "direct". Now the is a type of democracy called repersenative a.k.a Republic. These people plan to turn America into a direct democracy so they can use class warfare to take the presidental election. Who? Well, its many people many democracts, some republicans and others. No, this isn't a conspircy. :usa:

Okay, I'd like to recommend you start forming complete thoughts before you type them up. Especially here in the Politics forum. And proper grammar never hurt anyone. Except for maybe The Cheat...

Anyway, who are these "people trying to make that the U.S. is a Republic" ? I think you tried to give us an idea of who they were when you said "its many people many democracts, some republicans and others" but I'm not really sure.

And did you read that Wikipedia article I linked to before? It also has a link to another page which I think you might want to read: Democracy (varieties).

Check it out.
Author:  Professor No [ Thu Aug 19, 2004 2:34 am ]
Post subject: 
Sorry for the grammatical errors! I had to hurry up write it because I had homework to do. So, lets just agree to disagree on the subject.
Author:  InterruptorJones [ Thu Aug 19, 2004 2:37 am ]
Post subject: 
Kc408 wrote:
So, lets just agree to disagree on the subject.


Or maybe you could actually read the links that Tom provided you with and get yourself a little education instead of disregarding what everybody else has to say just because it doesn't fit into your narrow worldview.


er.. :goblin:
Author:  furrykef [ Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
I agree with much said here: please know what you're talking about before spouting off junk like this. It is a republic and a democracy.

As to your theory that we call it a "democracy" to "cover up" its being a "republic", what the heck is there to cover up??
Author:  Didymus [ Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's a conspiracy, man! They're trying to cover up the fact that our government has a system of checks and balances! And that Bills can only be enacted into Law when they have the support of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. And that the President has VETO POWERRRRR!
Author:  furrykef [ Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh, of course! It all makes sense now.
Author:  Brunswick Stu [ Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
and to further confuse things, one of the first political parties in the US was the Democratic-Republicans.
Author:  TURKEY [ Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm a Federalist. Top that.
Author:  InterruptorJones [ Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Um, this isn't the political affiliations thread, nor will anybody be impressed by your unconventional political attitudes.
Author:  Haddi-Man [ Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:42 pm ]
Post subject:  It's Neither
Look. I'm not here to argue and I'm not going to argue with you, I'm just going to say my simple belief. The U.S. is neither a Democracy or a Republic (wish it was a Republic though). All in all, we're being fooled into thinking it's a Democracy when really, it's a Totalitarian Government. Look it up, then think about it. The people of this country have no say in anything. Our government is just as corrupt as can be. I'm not saying I don't LOVE the United States, because I do love it, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but it's just that the government is corrupt.

Oh, and I also forgot to mention that is my strong belief that Democratic ALWAYS becomes Totalitarian. Besides, the U.S. DID start out as a Republic, but it's warped into nothing in my opinion.
Author:  InterruptorJones [ Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm locking this thread. There isn't enough tin foil and rehab in the world to turn this into a relevant, sensible, and informed discussion.
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