[fiscally_right]

The original idea for a Republic versus straight Democracy was based on the idea that the average person is uneducated and ignorant, and therefore not well able to make the best choice for himself. That may seem denigrating now, but it was perfectly true in the past. The question is whether it is true today. Furthermore, the logistics of having the entire populace vote on act and bill would be an intimidating task, to say the least. Plus, even that assumes that a sizable portion of the electorate would even turn out, or log on, (or however else), to vote.

[fiscally_right]

Yes, as Shrinker says, many bills today are too complicated for the average person to know what is best. Not to mention that foreign policy decisions could not be decided without disclosing militarily sensitive material to everyone.