Republic vs. Democracy?

Question

There is a very disturbing trend I have seen lately on Y/A, where folks refer to America as a Democracy........
Do People know that America was Founded as a REPUBLIC and NOT a DEMOCRACY? I see this a lot when people support doing away with the Electoral Vote and favor a Popular vote because as a "True Democracy" it should be that way?
There is a HUGE diference!!! We are a Republic of States. Which means that the STATES you decide their own fates and have Freedom from the Federal Government NOT an Umbilical Cord plugged into it.
We blame or praise our Federally Elected Officials, and expect "Favors" and "Entitlements" from the Fed., which was not their job in the first place.
Do schools teach how our OWN Gov. works? Dod kids still say "I'll never need to use History and Gov. class, so why learn it"? It is scary since the 1930's how the Fed. Gov. has grown. Our Founding Fathers would roll over in their Graves!!!
Read the Preamble to the Constitution and Decide. Republic or Democrac

Henry. I agree with your wording, but you may have missed the Point. We were set up as a Democratic Republic true. But in this form the States have the Power, Not the Federal Government. And no, it is not like the former USSR, as we actually have elections. I am not talking word semantics here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Preamble says "In order to form a more Perfect Union, Provide for the Common Defense, Provide Domestic Tranquility, Do Ordain...." The Federal Gov. was set up to defend the nation, keep the peace, and ensure free flow of trade between the States, and Congress to make laws. The morphing of this that has created the Federal Gov. as the "Peoples Caretaker" created in the 1930's as a "Temporary Situation",( per FDR) was not the intent. So the question of the Popular vote remains. As does the the question of States Rights being diminished. So the question stands. More Fed. Gov. or Less?

Univee, This is not a Dem. or Rep. Question. It is about what the Constitution and what it says about States Rights vs. Fed. Gov. Rights. So I'm sorry you couldn't understand the question or never read the constitution. Please, this was about debate, not hate, use another question to spew your lack of knowledge.

There are good points here. Do you think there will be a debate on this? Is there enough interest by the general Public ?

Answer 1

No, the teachers don't really teach it. We are, however, a Republic with Democratically elected representatives (not every republic has that). They lean on the democratic aspects in history and government classes solely to energize the voting base into civic participation. There's a dangerous malaise inherent in believing that the individual can't make a difference.

It's true that the Federal Government has gotten far larger than the founders intended, and for a while I was pretty scared at the power of a President with a rubber-stamp congress, but the people prevailed last November. It may move slower than we'd like; but the system does eventually work.

Answer 2

Actually, either of the statements could apply to both Republic or Democracy. The funny thing is there is no Nation that actually has a true Democracy since it is mob rule. A Republic is founded on core beliefs and laws that protect the people. I also agree that I don't think this is someone's status since I know philosophy majors who don't post things like this.

Answer 3

With today's technologies, a 'pure' democracy is not only possible, it's uniquely practical. Republics - or democratic republics - are ruled by those elected by "the people". As power corrupts, and the elected officials become less beholden to "the people" and more subservient to those who keep them in office, the republic form of government breaks down and deteriorates.
Why couldn't the U.S.A. be a "pure democracy" where 'the people" would vote, by referendum, on every significant piece of legislation? Congress dilly-dallies on everything just to make it look like they're doing something really 'important'. "The people" could make those decisions in a heartbeat. -RKO- 05/14/07

Answer 4

I appreciate your insight. I too twitch when I see people use democracy all the time. But what does the people in our government do ? Even the Bush man, talks about democracy spreading throughout the world. Technically speaking, aren't we a representative republic? We are not a democracy, we definitely wouldn't get anything done then. We are not a democracy - we are a republic !

Answer 5

The odd need that Republicans have to rid themselves of the mantle of Democracy has been duly noted.

As the first response indicates: we are a democratic republic, although at this point we have evolved to a nation run secretly by corporations while people vote for people that most often are simply fronts for the corporations.

Folks like yourself are engaged in a semantic debate of no consequence. But I'm sure you think that your thoughts are revelatory.

Answer 6

Excuse me but if you know what you think you know you would know that America is a democratic republic. That means it is both a democracy and a republic. Just like the Soviet Union was a Communist Republic. It was both a republic (a representative form of government) that also happened to be Communist. Pure democracy is impractical. Our founding fathers knew that 200 years ago. It is still true today. So they set up a representative democracy which we still enjoy today. So don't tell me America is not a democracy. It is true that it is not a pure democracy but that doesn't mean it is not a democracy.

Answer 7

democracy sucks. Republic is the way the U.S was meant to be and it's better and more organized. People just want to be spoiled.

Answer 8

I know that we're a Republic. I learned it in school.

Answer 9

this country is a Representative republic, that's the way it is