America is a Republic, Friend. Get used to it. It's not a slur to be a Republic. It's an honor.
'Republic' is an awfully loose word. China is a 'republic', Iraq was a 'republic', France is a 'republic', Rome was a republic. England is not a republic. Seems all 'republic' really means is no royal family.
America is a democracy, we choose our leaders. If that's not democracy then what is? Unless you feel, like Chomsky and other folk on the extreme left [and right], that elections count for nothing and are only theater played out by the ruling elites to pacify the masses.
If we are not a democracy then I guess you don't bother votng.