why is a contry based on democracy bad, but a republic good?

Question

People continue to use the term democracy, when we should use republic.

I do not mean "peoples republic"

Answer 1

In the literal sense, and in the Aristotelian sense, democracy just means 'rule of the people,' or rule by the majority. That never works. Fifty percent plus one could always vote to enslave or slaughter the other forty-nine percent. Without the rule of law, without minority protections, without something equivalent to a written constitution, there's nothing stopping the majority from running roughshod over the minority.

A republic just means representative government without a monarchy. That's what we have in the United States. Most people refer to our system in layman's terms as a democracy, so the word democracy has evolved over time to essentially mean what we have--a republic--but with more emphasis on popular sovereignty, or the "will of the people," than a republican system typically has. Regardless of what you call it, representative government seems to work best and is usually accompanied by the rule of law.

Answer 2

The idea is that a republic contains some built-in protections against 'mob rule' that a participatory democracy does not.

A republic /is/ a democracy, though, so it is propper to talk about democracy when discussing republics.

Answer 3

Democracy is, to but it bluntly, mob rule - which is never a good thing. Mob rule would be a barely controllable version of anarchy.

A Republic is whenever elected Representatives speak for a group of people, which is a much cleaner system of government than a true Democracy.

Answer 4

If you really want to get technical, we should be called a representative democracy or like you said Republic.

As you are aware, uneducated people remember the little they can from their 8th grade history classes and say, "We're a democracy". When ever anybody says this I just acknowledge that they don't know what they are talking about.

TX Guy - History Teacher

Answer 5

In a republic, each of the states send representatives to vote on issues at the republic (federal) level.

Too many people forget that the states should hold nearly all the power. Too often, we look to the federal government to handle issues, rather than the state or local governments.

The federal government should exist primarily to provide national security and the military.

We need to get back to powerful individual and independent states with the true authority to govern their people. I believe that if the states were truly allowed to be different, a lot of our issues would be handled.

For example, if the people in one state want to endorse gay marriage, let them. If some of the people in that state disagree, they can either campaign for a change, or move to another state. This would also allow states to tailor their laws and practices to match the makeup of their state.

We are a collection of state governments, not one government. If this isn't true, we should just eliminate the states....

Big government simply doesn't work. We need to push the power and authority back down to the state and local governments. I'm not sure about your state, but the Washington politicians are too far removed to make wise decisions about my state, city, and township....

Answer 6

Can you imagine every bill proposed having to be voted on by the ENTIRE POPULATION? Most people, as evidenced on this site daily, don't have the mental capacity to grasp most of the concepts the country is dealing with.

Answer 7

Solaran X says (and I quote):
"A Republican is whenever elected Representatives speak for a group of people, which is a much cleaner system of government than a true Democracy."

Well, that's half-right: Republicans DO, indeed, speak for a group of people - the wealthy elitists, conservative media moguls, corporate campaign contributors, and military-industrial complex - all of whom are willing to kill for the sake of OIL and WAR PROFITEERING.

A democracy, on the other hand, is where government is ruled and controlled by the people. In today's high-tech world, democracy could be a very effective means of governance. It would result in "we the people" actually deciding how our government would be managed instead of allowing bungling, greedy, corrupt elected representatives mismanage our government to protect and preserve their own interests. -RKO - 07/12/07

Answer 8

A purely democratic country is every bit as good as a republic. Maybe better. Not possible however. About as close as you can get is to become a republic based as much as possible on democratic principals. Like the US.

Answer 9

You have it backwards my friend.