I've been learning about politics and I was curious why the people of this country say they are a democracy when from what I learned the country is not one. Does anyone know the cultural significance or reason for that?
2007-10-27 12:24:23 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Cultural significance meaning are there documents written or historical events that make people believe the U.S. is a democracy and I am curious if there is some tradition of using that word as a positive thing and perhaps that is why it is used.
2007-10-27 13:05:24 · update #1
The US is not a democracy, it's a republic. However, most people don't know the difference, and 'republic' probably has a vaguely communist sound, owing to associations like 'Union of Soviet Socalist Republics' and the ubiquitous 'People's Republic of...' when applied to Stalinist regimes.
In a democracy, the people get to determine what is done in their name. The closest the world has ever come to a true democracy was Athens in Greece, for about a hundred years between the fifth and fourth centuries BC. Every other democracy has been a representative democracy, in which people got to select their representatives. In a republic, the assembly of public representatives is further checked by other institutions, such as the presidency, senate and/or judiciary. In other words, a republic, such as the USA, is much less democratic than democratic Athens was. In fairness, it's hard to see how participatory democracy of the Athenian sort could be introduced into a country the size of the USA.
The US political system is further removed from popular control in that you can get elected President without having the majority of the popular vote - a situation which is normally associated with dictatorships and despotic regimes.
The interesting thing with the US is that 'democracy' is a professed article of faith for both the Democratic and Republican parties, insofar as both parties profess to believe in it, whereas neither claims that 'republicanism' is what they're about, although in practice it's what they both put into effect.
2007-10-27 12:37:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its one of the many lies you get taught in federally funded schools that all have the same textbooks. The fact of the matter is that we are not a democracy, nor did any of the founding fathers have anything good to say about democracy. It is this idea that has led us to be licensed for every activity. Licenses turn rights into privileges. Rights and privileges are opposites. In a democracy you have no rights. You have privileges granted to you by the will of the majority. In our (supposedly) republic, the rights and property of the minority are protected from the majority. Furthermore, the Constitution states in atricle 4 section 4 that we are a republic. Here are some quotes for you to google and lead you in the right direction.
Not only did our Founding Fathers establish a republic, they greatly feared democracy. James Madison, known as the father of the U.S. Constitution, wrote in "Essay #10" of The Federalist Papers: "... democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths."
Although such an attitude will surprise most Americans, it is accurate.
The United States Constitution does not contain the word democracy. It does "guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government...." Also, when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, we say, "to the Republic for which it stands," and not "to the Democracy."
The difference between a republic and a democracy was once widely understood in America. The U.S. War Department (superseded by the Department of Defense) taught that difference in a training manual (No. 2000-25) published on November 30, 1928. This official U.S. government document, used at the time for the training of American military personnel, said of democracy:
A government of the masses.
Authority derived through mass meeting or any other form of 'direct' expression.
Results in mobocracy.
Attitude toward property is communistic - negating property rights.
Attitude toward law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation
or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences.
Results in demogogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy."
It went on to state: "Our Constitutional fathers, familiar with the strength and weakness of both autocracy and democracy, with fixed principles definitely in mind, defined a representative republican form of government. They 'made a very marked distinction between a republic and a democracy and said repeatedly and emphatically that they had founded a republic.' "
Don't be deceived. America is a republic - not a democracy!
2007-10-27 20:56:34 · answer #2 · answered by Joey C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A democracy is asking two wolves and a chicken what they want for dinner.
We are a democratic republic, which is much better. It's just common cultural use to say "democracy".
Actually, we weren't a democratic republic until native Americans got the right to vote. At our start, not even the major (the females) had the right so we weren't even close to a democracy until that was achieved.
2007-10-27 19:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by American Spirit 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We have a federal republic with democratic principles.
One does not want to live in a pure democracy. That is mob rules and is the worst kind of government. It allows instant gratification to take over.
While we are prone to acting with instant gratification (the result of 911 and our two unjustifiable wars), nevertheless, when we think clearly we can get amazing things done. Problem with today, is we are so partisan that its very hard to get things done.
The biggest reason we are so partisan is the talking heads that too many of us allow them to do our thinking for us. That goes for the left and right.
In my 56 years on this planet, I have never seen this country so divided down party lines and partisanship. That includes the Vietnam war era.
The best thing the people can do it turn off the damned radio and trash talking heads TV.
Peace
Jim
.
2007-10-27 20:04:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, you're sort of right: in theory, we're a republic, not a democracy. (In actual practice, we are a democracy today, which is quite unfortunate.)
Why is there supposed to be "cultural significance" for everything? Since its meaning seems to change every time I hear the term, precisely what the hell is it supposed to mean?
2007-10-27 19:59:42 · answer #5 · answered by Richard S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are a democratic republic. In the truest sense their is no real democracy left on the planet simply because nothing would get done. The US now is a representational democracy in the sense that we elect people to represent and vote like us on the issues.
2007-10-27 19:43:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, it is a democratic republic. A regular old democracy implies direct governance by the people. In the USA the people elect government officials.
It's not technically a democracy, but it is democratic, so they're not way off.
2007-10-27 19:28:47 · answer #7 · answered by Matt 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because the people have a say: the vote on issues, and elect officials to decide the ones they don't vote on and lead them.
The Sage's def.: "A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them."
2007-10-27 19:30:49 · answer #8 · answered by Daewen 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I never used to 'get into' politics and am embarrassed to say I didn't know we have overthrown 50 DEMOCRATIC countries and bombed 30ish. OMG, I thought not too much could get to me anymore-WOW!
2007-10-27 19:46:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Democratic republic.
2007-10-27 19:29:31 · answer #10 · answered by Kevy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋