Is America a democracy?

[United Nations Of God]

There's much disagreement on this, and/but/so I wanted to make a poll about it. Do you think America is a democracy?

I would say no, because democracy is supposed to work from the bottom-up, and decisions are supposed to be made by common consent. It's supposed to be rule by the people (and for the people), but America's political system is a highly bureaucratic top-down authority.

I'm not even going to begin talking about lobbyists.

Actually its definitely NOT, the founding fathers found this nations as a Republic and they said that they found it as one because history shows Democracy's ALWAYS fail.

[South Norwega]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

[Hegstoria]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

Says the foreigner.

[Maurepas]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

Says the foreigner.

And the Educated Native Populace,

[Panzerjaeger]

There's much disagreement on this, and/but/so I wanted to make a poll about it. Do you think America is a democracy?

I would say no, because democracy is supposed to work from the bottom-up, and decisions are supposed to be made by common consent. It's supposed to be rule by the people (and for the people), but America's political system is a highly bureaucratic top-down authority.

I'm not even going to begin talking about lobbyists.

Actually its definitely NOT, the founding fathers found this nations as a Republic and they said that they found it as one because history shows Direct Democracy's ALWAYS fails with large populations.

Fix'd.

[Hegstoria]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

Says the foreigner.

And the Educated Native Populace,

Not I. I know we are a Republic. I payed attention in first grade.

[Demented Tigers]

I kinda like the idea that we are just a republic. It encourages the fermentation of revolutionary potential. After all, if we are not a democracy then the government is illegitimate.

Why would any advocate of democracy want to call the current situation in the united states anything associated with democracy?

The real question is: Why would anyone advocate democracy after seeing what it has done to the United States?

Without naming names, how many wars were fought in the name of democracy to prevent the election of communist parties? That's democracy (so long as the candidates are acceptable).

[United Nations Of God]

There's much disagreement on this, and/but/so I wanted to make a poll about it. Do you think America is a democracy?

I would say no, because democracy is supposed to work from the bottom-up, and decisions are supposed to be made by common consent. It's supposed to be rule by the people (and for the people), but America's political system is a highly bureaucratic top-down authority.

I'm not even going to begin talking about lobbyists.

Actually its definitely NOT, the founding fathers found this nations as a Republic and they said that they found it as one because history shows Direct Democracy's ALWAYS fails with large populations.

Fix'd.

actually yeah your right, direct democracy's where people vote on things,

okay so a democracy is technically where the PEOPLE vote directly on issue's however we are not one technically we are a republic seeing as we elect leaders on BEHALF of the people.

*EDIT: to add do you really want people who are uneducated clueless people voting directly on stuff? no... but we have the democratic party anyways

[Maurepas]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

Says the foreigner.

And the Educated Native Populace,

Not I. I know we are a Republic. I payed attention in first grade.

I know we are a Republic too, but, I also paid attention in US Government, and know that we are also a Representative Democracy, and that the two are not mutually exclusive...

[Panzerjaeger]

I kinda like the idea that we are just a republic. It encourages the fermentation of revolutionary potential. After all, if we are not a democracy then the government is illegitimate.

Why would any advocate of democracy want to call the current situation in the united states anything associated with democracy?

The real question is: Why would anyone advocate democracy after seeing what it has done to the United States?

Without naming names, how many wars were fought in the name of democracy to prevent the election of communist parties? That's democracy (so long as the candidates are acceptable).

Or killing elected officials in a certain South-East Asian Country then putting in dictator after dictator until the nation's collapse form its Northern Brethren.

[Tubbsalot]

What the hell? 75% of people say no? It's a democratic republic! It might not be 100% democratic in all ways, but that doesn't mean it's not a frigging democracy. The government still answers to the general population.

[Panzerjaeger]

What the hell? 75% of people say no? It's a democratic republic! It might not be 100% democratic in all ways, but that doesn't mean it's not a frigging democracy. The government still answers to the general population.

This is why the American Electorate should no longer have a voice.

[Chumblywumbly]

What the hell? 75% of people say no?

One of 'em common misconception hingies.

[Demented Tigers]

I kinda like the idea that we are just a republic. It encourages the fermentation of revolutionary potential. After all, if we are not a democracy then the government is illegitimate.

Why would any advocate of democracy want to call the current situation in the united states anything associated with democracy?

The real question is: Why would anyone advocate democracy after seeing what it has done to the United States?

Without naming names, how many wars were fought in the name of democracy to prevent the election of communist parties? That's democracy (so long as the candidates are acceptable).

Or killing elected officials in a certain South-East Asian Country then putting in dictator after dictator until the nation's collapse form its Northern Brethren.

Exactly. What else can you do if the people you put in power are intent on capitulation! Eventually you should find someone insane enough to keep fighting...

[Conserative Morality]

I kinda like the idea that we are just a republic. It encourages the fermentation of revolutionary potential. After all, if we are not a democracy then the government is illegitimate.

Why would any advocate of democracy want to call the current situation in the united states anything associated with democracy?

Why would anyone who claims America is not a Democracy want to have the alternative, Switzerland?

Or have we forgotten about the Minaret incident?

[South Norwega]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

Says the foreigner.

And the Educated Native Populace,

Not I. I know we are a Republic. I payed attention in first grade.

I know we are a Republic too, but, I also paid attention in US Government, and know that we are also a Representative Democracy, and that the two are not mutually exclusive...

And there's the reasoning. Of course, some people don't actually realise that the two aren't necessarily exclusive, and deny that Representative Democracies are Democracies.

[Natapoc]

I have a question: Is Iran a democracy?

No, they are a "theocratic republic", whatever that means,

Why is it not a theocratic republic and also a democracy? Are the two necessarily contradictory if the majority also belongs to that religion and supports theocratic principles by voting for theocrats?

The current leader of Iran was elected by the exact same method that is used in elections in the US. Although the system of using electors for the states by the US could be considered less democratic then the election in Iran.

So why is Iran not a democracy?

[Panzerjaeger]

I have a question: Is Iran a democracy?

No, they are a "theocratic republic", whatever that means,

Why is it not a theocratic republic and also a democracy? Are the two necessarily contradictory if the majority also belongs to that religion and supports theocratic principles by voting for theocrats?

The current leader of Iran was elected by the exact same method that is used in elections in the US. Although the system of using electors for the states by the US could be considered less democratic then the election in Iran.

So why is Iran not a democracy?

Further proof that democracies are shit.

[Othyl]

Okay, most of this has been said, but I feel I need to clear some things up.

First off, a 'representative republic' is redundant. A republic is by definition, rule by representatives.

That being said, if we go with a blanket definition of democracy to mean rule by many, in contrast to an autocracy, rule by one, America is a democracy, since it's ruled by representatives chosen by her citizens. It's a representative democracy, guided by a mixture of pluralist and majoritarian models, depending on what exactly we're talking about doing.

However, the common definition of democracy is that of a direct democracy, which unlike what some would like you to think, has been used more recently than classical Greece. Anarchist Catalonia for example was an interesting mixture of direct democracy and ideal communism that was successful until the shooting started. In this respect, America is not a direct democracy. Most states are on some issues, but on a national level, it is not and doesn't pretend to be.

It's important to draw the line that America isn't a democracy because while democracy, from a technical standpoint, is a blanket term that covers a lot of government systems, the vast majority of people do not understand the distinction between democracy and direct democracy, they assume both are the latter and so that is why I would say that it is not a democracy because we might as well be specific enough to make sure people know what we're talking about.

[South Norwega]

I have a question: Is Iran a democracy?

No, they are a "theocratic republic", whatever that means,

Why is it not a theocratic republic and also a democracy? Are the two necessarily contradictory if the majority also belongs to that religion and supports theocratic principles by voting for theocrats?

The current leader of Iran was elected by the exact same method that is used in elections in the US. Although the system of using electors for the states by the US could be considered less democratic then the election in Iran.

So why is Iran not a democracy?

I would say it's not a Liberal Democracy, but more an Illiberal Democracy.

Exciting terminology!

[Maurepas]

Oh, this again?

Fuck yes it is.

It's a Liberal Democracy.

Says the foreigner.

And the Educated Native Populace,

Not I. I know we are a Republic. I payed attention in first grade.

I know we are a Republic too, but, I also paid attention in US Government, and know that we are also a Representative Democracy, and that the two are not mutually exclusive...

And there's the reasoning. Of course, some people don't actually realise that the two aren't necessarily exclusive, and deny that Representative Democracies are Democracies.

I've been trying to say it as loud as possible on here for some time....But, it's a persistent rumour, and I do believe that it is a partisan issue, so that GOP supporters can de-legitimize their opponents, making educating them on the matter that much more difficult, as it isn't something they want to hear...

[Maurepas]

I have a question: Is Iran a democracy?

No, they are a "theocratic republic", whatever that means,

Why is it not a theocratic republic and also a democracy? Are the two necessarily contradictory if the majority also belongs to that religion and supports theocratic principles by voting for theocrats?

The current leader of Iran was elected by the exact same method that is used in elections in the US. Although the system of using electors for the states by the US could be considered less democratic then the election in Iran.

So why is Iran not a democracy?

The elections in Iran are well-known to be a sham, on a more direct level than just buying the candidates off, so, that's why I would say it isn't, certainly isn't as democratic as the US at any rate...

But, fair point...

[Caninope]

What UAWC (Being his commie self) was trying to move the debate into was how plutocratic the American "Democratic" process is. You MUST be rich to get a whole-national voice.

No you don't. Obama isn't rich. Neither was Clinton, Johnson, or Carter. They weren't poor by any standard, but you forget that most civil servants and career politicians could have been much richer.

equally balancing National and State power

You're funny.

[Uawc]

What UAWC (Being his commie self) was trying to move the debate into was how plutocratic the American "Democratic" process is. You MUST be rich to get a whole-national voice.

No you don't. Obama isn't rich. Neither was Clinton, Johnson, or Carter. They weren't poor by any standard, but you forget that most civil servants and career politicians could have been much richer.

equally balancing National and State power

You're funny.

Two words:

Corporate donations.

[Demented Tigers]

What UAWC (Being his commie self) was trying to move the debate into was how plutocratic the American "Democratic" process is. You MUST be rich to get a whole-national voice.

No you don't. Obama isn't rich. Neither was Clinton, Johnson, or Carter. They weren't poor by any standard, but you forget that most civil servants and career politicians could have been much richer.

equally balancing National and State power

You're funny.

You need rich backing though. There's no way anyone could stand for office, so the choice of who you want to represent you is limited.