[Mamzelle]

re: Many great American statesmen have made the mistake of referring to our form of government as a Democracy. It was never intended to be a Democracy, but a democratic Republic. There are major differences. Still, ask any 100 people you meet on the street or any 100 students in America’s schools what form of government we have and you will likely get 100 responses of, “a Democracy.” )))

I've read this many times, and it still comes across as nitpicky and hair-splitty. Democracy is known in comparison to tyrannies--as a common-sense set of ideas rather than some diagnosis proferred by an undergrad in political science 101...

Votes, elections, representation, individual rights--these are associations with democracy. The associations are meaningful enough for a sensible person to say that we live in a democracy.

Shorthand? Maybe. But good enough for government work.

[TaxPayer2000]

I've read this many times, and it still comes across as nitpicky and hair-splitty.

may I suggest reading the following: Democracy VS Republic