Wait! Since when could Bush do THAT?! (hell, America, experience)

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

If that were true The UK would be a republic as Parliament makes the laws not us.
we only vote for the members.
The english word for this is a democracy

You can hardly get into a political discussion in the U.S. without somebody claiming the U.S. is not a democracy. I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but:

• The People's Republic of China is a republic, but not a democracy.
• The United Kingdom is a democracy, but not a republic.
• The United states is both a democracy and a republic.

Not that anybody ever listens.

[nutshell]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

You can hardly get into a political discussion in the U.S. without somebody claiming the U.S. is not a democracy. I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but:

• The People's Republic of China is a republic, but not a democracy.
• The United Kingdom is a democracy, but not a republic.
• The United states is both a democracy and a republic.

Not that anybody ever listens.

I listen and agree.

[spacemonkey]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

You can hardly get into a political discussion in the U.S. without somebody claiming the U.S. is not a democracy. I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but:

• The People's Republic of China is a republic, but not a democracy.
• The United Kingdom is a democracy, but not a republic.
• The United states is both a democracy and a republic.

Not that anybody ever listens.

Ummm...I stated that the United States is a Democratic Republic. That also means that it is not a TRUE democracy in the Hellenistic sense. The fact that our States retain the right to enact their own laws and set their own penalties and taxes (aside from federal laws and income tax) is what makes us partially a republic. The election of officals to a legislature is known as a representative democracy and is differant than a direct democracy, where all citizans get to vote on policy decisions.

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

If that were true The UK would be a republic as Parliament makes the laws not us.
we only vote for the members.
The english word for this is a democracy

In common English it is democracy. It is a type of democracy called "representative democracy," which is also commonly referred to as a "republic."

By the strict standard of "direct democracy", I don't think even Athens (the "Birthplace of Democracy") would qualify, since voting rights were restricted to landed aristocrats.

[nutshell]

Originally Posted by spacemonkey

Ummm...I stated that the United States is a Democratic Republic. That also means that it is not a TRUE democracy in the Hellenistic sense. The fact that our States retain the right to enact their own laws and set their own penalties and taxes (aside from federal laws and income tax) is what makes us partially a republic. The election of officals to a legislature is known as a representative democracy and is differant than a direct democracy, where all citizans get to vote on policy decisions.

A TRUE democracy would be a disaster in my opinion.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by nutshell

A TRUE democracy would be a disaster in my opinion.

I think it would be a disaster of epic proportions. Representative democracy is bad enough.

[kiwimac]

Really though, you folks need to get rid of the electoral college. Popular vote should be the deciding factor or so ISTM.

[CaptainXeroid]

Originally Posted by kiwimac

Really though, you folks need to get rid of the electoral college. Popular vote should be the deciding factor or so ISTM.

Actually, no we should not. America was founded by states coming together for the common defense and general welfare, and our Founding Fathers left the method for choosing the electors up to each state.

Anyone who describes America as any kind of democracy either has not read or does not understand the US Constitution. No form of the WORD democracy appears ANYWHERE in the document., but Article IV Section 4 contains these words "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,"

Click here for a transcipt and read for yourself in case you don't believe me.

Let me repeat that for those who do not seem to understand it. NO FORM OF THE WORD DEMOCRACY APPEARS IN THE US CONSTITUTION! America is not a democracy, our Founding Fathers did not desire America to be a democracy, and they wrote the Constitution to PREVENT America from becoming one.

We have representatives who make decisions on our behalf, the source of authority comes from our Constitution, so that makes us a Constitutional Republic. Open and shut. End of story.

One last comment on the subject. Eliminating the Electoral College would require an amendment to the US Constitution, and I am very safe in predicting that is not going to happen in my life time.

No one seems to want to talk signing statements, so I guess we can just move on to the next thread. Adios.