Dan Rather calls Trump a ‘threat to our democracy’ after media ban

The Blaze ^ | February 24, 2017 | Carlos Garcia

[philman_36]

The U.S. is not a Democracy - So What Is It? Part 1

The U.S. is not a Democracy - So What Is It? Part 2

The U.S. is not a Democracy, Part 3

[philman_36]

Did someone email Dan and tell him we’re a representative Republic?

Why do that when we're a Constitutional Republic?
He's screwed up enough, don't make it worse.

Think of it like this...where is that representation set out? In the Constitution?

Cart before the horse or after it?

[odds]

I did say a lot and all was correct in context of my initial post in this thread.

Read this from an official USA government website: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2008/06/20080628202248eaifas0.9543421.html#axzz4a95mNdN8

Excerpt:

“Similarities and Differences Between the U.S. System of Government and Other Forms of Democratic Government
As a constitutional federal republic, the United States is not unique. Many “democracies” are in fact constitutional republics, and share with the United States long traditions of democratic representation, the rule of law, and constitutional protections.”

The US is a Federal Republic with a Constitution. That’s the system of government for the US. And, the US Constitution has ALL aspects and elements of a democracy, as I said before.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I won’t believe it until I see the Word document.

[odds]

PS - so you’re crytal clear, a Federal Republic with a Constitution (such as the U.S.) does not mean the same is not a ‘democracy’, or preclude it from being a ‘democracy’, or having ‘democratic elements’ within it, as the U.S. does.

Therefore, per my original reply in this thread, the US is NOT simply a “Republic” (as the other Freeper had stated).

[philman_36]

You're proving my point.

BTW...The US is a Federal Republic with a Constitution.

Where/from whence is that federal aspect laid out? The cart and the horse, again.

And, the US Constitution has ALL aspects and elements of a democracy, as I said before.

Then why is there representation instead of direct voting in the Constitution? Isn't direct voting THE hallmark of a democracy?

[odds]

Where/from whence is that federal aspect laid out? The cart and the horse, again.

It really isn't hard to do some research even online and find out, instead of convolution & constantly moving in circles, philman_36.

Definition of a Federal Republic:

"The United States is a federal republic [as opposed to a Unitary Republic] in which the president, Congress, and federal courts share powers reserved to the national government according to its Constitution. At the same time, the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments." -- here

Then why is there representation instead of direct voting in the Constitution?

Per my original comment in #28 - A democracy means:

“a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.”

Isn't direct voting THE hallmark of a democracy?

From another FR thread to which you pinged me, post 19 -- ”What differentiates us is that we are democratic, in the Jeffersonian sense of all citizens being equal, and government coming from the consent of the governed. That’s how “democracy” is used in today’s English, not a reference to Athens style direct majority rule. That’s how Scalia used it, and how I use it. Arguing that “we are not a democracy, we are a republic” just confuses things.”

[odds]

>>>”You’re proving my point.”<<<

Hopefully you get what I’ve said throughout. This discussion started with Republic vs. Democracy definition, in this thread.

Furthermore, the US is equally a democracy as discussed in this thread and the other linked FR thread in #87.

But, your insistence the US is a “Constitutional Republic” is at best incomplete.

There are many “Constitutional Republics” - Iran, Republic of Ireland and France are examples. There are many more. Not all are “Federal Republics” and (true) representative democracies at the same time, as the US is.

The correct and official term to use for the US is “Federal Republic” - naturally with a very democratic Constitution which specifies & qualifies the aforementioned designation.

[philman_36]

Set
Constitution

Subset A
Federalism

Subset B
Republicanism
(representative)

The correct and official term to use for the US is “Federal Republic” - naturally with a very democratic Constitution which specifies & qualifies the aforementioned designation.

So the Constitution gives birth to both yet you place the two above that which created them?

Federalism

Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black wrote that federalism meant a proper respect for state functions, a recognition of the fact that the entire country is made up of a Union of separate State governments, and a continuance of the belief that the National Government will fare best if the States and their institutions are left free to perform their separate functions in their separate ways. (Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91S. Ct. 746, 27 L. Ed. 2d 669 [1971])
The Constitution lists the legislative powers of the federal government.

Constitutional republic

A Constitutional Republic is a government created and controlled, at least, by the Law of a Constitution. The Constitution of the United States of America is, in Law, foundationally based on the Magna Carta, and The Declaration of Independence. Those documents recognize man’s sovereignty, the divine nature of man’s creation and man’s divine right to Life, Liberty, Property, and the pursuit of happiness.
From there as well... Federal republic — a federal union of states or provinces with a republican form of government.

Where's the Constitution?
They're NOT the same thing.

[odds]

So the Constitution gives birth to both yet you place the two above that which created them?

And, to label the US a "Constitutional Republic", as you had insisted & stated, is/was incorrect and incomplete.

At minimum, your label does not differentiate between the US and other forms of "Constitutional Republics".

The US is a Federal Republic, according to its constitution, and, a democracy.

[philman_36]

And, to label the US a "Constitutional Republic", as you had insisted & stated, is/was incorrect and incomplete.

By its very name your "Federal Republic" is what is incorrect and incomplete. A Federal Republic can be created without a Constitution. A Constitutional Republic has to have a Constitution,, which America does.

The US is a Federal Republic, according to its constitution, and, a democracy.
The US is a Constitutional Republic because of the Constitution. Your very words prove it.

And, once again, show me anything that shows the nation was created as a democracy. You've yet to do so.
A majority vote in the House or Senate does not a democracy make.

[odds]

"A Federal Republic can be created without a Constitution."

Give me an example of a country today which is officially known as a Federal Republic and has no constitution?

"A majority vote in the House or Senate does not a democracy make."

Read my post #87 again regarding the term "democracy" and its modern definition. Clue: It does Not specify "majority vote".

If you still don't understand, or unwilling to accept as it is clearly apparent, then end of discussion.

[philman_36]

Give me an example of a country today which is officially known as a Federal Republic and has no constitution?
Is that a question or a statement?

Aaaaaanyway...only 3 returns on Federal Republic and the other 2 do have Constitutions.
The World Factbook

However, even they cite the US as a constitutional federal republic and is the only one listed as such.
Why do you think that is so?

Now, you show me where a Federal Republic has to have a Constitution.

[odds]

Give me an example of a country today which is officially known as a Federal Republic and has no constitution?

Is that a question or a statement?

A question when a question mark(?) at the end of my above sentence in bold :)

Aaaaaanyway...only 3 returns on Federal Republic and the other 2 do have Constitutions.

Thanks. Which country in your link was officially designated a Federal Republic without a constitution? I can't find it & am curious.

However, even they cite the US as a constitutional federal republic and is the only one listed as such. Why do you think that is so?

Just because they list it as such doesn't mean the US is the only (Constitutional) Federal Republic.

A "Constitutional Republic" label (on its own), you had insisted, is a broad term too; slightly less so than a "Republic". There are many "Constitutional Republics" - not all are "Federal Republics" too. See my post #88.

Now, you show me where a Federal Republic has to have a Constitution.

By definition and inherently, a Federal Republic is a form of government made up of a federal state with (or according to) a constitution, which include self-governing subunits (state governments) -- a constitution is a given (typically a basic fact, or, at least an accurate assumption). See #87.

[philman_36]

Now, you show me where a Federal Republic has to have a Constitution.

Still don't see a response.

A question when a question mark(?) at the end of my above sentence in bold

Wh questions (Question Words)
Question words are also called wh questions because they include the letters 'W' and 'H'.

Your words...Give me an example of a country today which is officially known as a Federal Republic and has no constitution?

A question mark alone doesn't make a question. "Give me" is a demand, not a request.

You don't understand sentence structure so it's easy to see why you think a democracy is a republic and a statement is a question.

[odds]

“Still don’t see a response.”

I understood you were unwilling to accept what was said, and still are grasping at straws to save face.

If not, then learn to read, absorb written information, and improve your comprehension skills. End of discussion.

[philman_36]

End of discussion.

Translation - I can't disprove what you're saying so I'm leaving and I'm taking my ball.

Understood.

[odds]

oh.... so, Philman_36, you’re telling me USA is not a Democracy, but a Republic, right? I’ve been wrong throughout in my comments in this thread?

[odds]

Translation - I can't disprove what you're saying so I'm leaving and I'm taking my ball.

You have been disproved over and over, you know it too.

Next time, when you insist USA is a Republic, not a Democracy, don't bomb other countries, kill millions of others including Christians to pretend to bring "democracy" to others.

Keep your "Republic" ball to yourself... if you can.