After seeing the “Theocracy or Democracy?” question I had to ask;?

Question

How many people think we have a Democracy in the USA?

I'm glad to see that some know it is a Republic. Democratic Republic is more correct.

Answer 1

We don't.

It's a republic.

Answer 2

Nominally, we're a democratic republic. Practically, it's a foul tyranny of vested interests and outright greed. The only way to restore American democracy would be to significantly reduce the power of the two major parties by eliminating the Electoral College and then to do away with the perks and privileges of Congressional seniority. Professional lobbyists pervert the intentions of the founders and undermine the Constitutional power of the people to manage their own affairs.

Even so, the corrupt government we currently endure is infinitely preferable to a totalitarian theocracy -- a giant step backwards.

Answer 3

We started as a republic but have evolved into a democracy. Do away with the electoral college and lets go to strictly the popular vote!!

Also the line between democracy and republic is VERY thin.

EDIT: I agree completely with Guy With Question's comments about the electorial college. It is time to eliminate it and go to strictly the popular vote. We now have the technology and also the means to tamper-proof it. The only people whose votes actually counted in teh Bush-Gore election were absentee ballots for the state of Florida. Normally these dont even get seriously considered, but had to be since the state of Florida was so close.I believe more people would vote if they seriously thought their vote would be counted.

Answer 4

Democracy...a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. (as the dictionary defines)

That's a load of bull though...They may say it's a Democracy, by the people and for the people...but it's not. Our votes actually mean nothing (on the Federal level). Our votes do nothing more then influence the electoral college how to cast their vote. The college members don't have to follow the majority vote of the state...they can vote however they feel fit. Some Democracy, huh...

Answer 5

The USA is a constitutional republic. Representative democracy is still democracy, although Bush is edging towards Autocracy in my opinion...

Answer 6

How can it be a democracy when the President can be voted into power with a minority of the votes.It happened with both GWB and Clinton

Answer 7

Representative Republic.

True Democracy is unsustainable in a large country.

Answer 8

We do use democratic processes here, but if you want to be totally correct, our system (at least in theory) is a constitutionally-limited democratic republic.

Answer 9

First we had a Republic...
Now we have a Democracy...
Soon we'll have Socialism...

It just keeps getting better... doesn't it...

Answer 10

we obviously have a REPUBLIC (for which it stands... blah blah...)

and to clear up another HUGE misconception, we are not Capitalist as we so dearly like to cling to but we are a moderate Socialist Republic. if we were truely Capitalist, we wouldnt have the Federal Reserve determining our market values..

Answer 11

Actually, I think we do have a democracy, but the purpose in the US was never to have majority rule, but to protect the minority so they wouldn't get beheaded or anything like the whole Catholic/Mary vs. Protestant/Elizabeth thing in England. What the Christian majority needs to understand is that the minorities have rights too, and their protection is what the Constitution was designed for.