[Valin]

Ok Ok whatever.
When I see the word democracy in this kind of article I thing freely elected open transparent goverment.
I think you're nitpicking. (and yes i know this will get me flamed, but I'm all growed up and can take it)

[Free Baptist]

Not nitpicking. The idea of democracy is why you are paying more and more for national (rather than federal) government. The idea of democracy is what makes the idea of illegal aliens using mob power in the streets of America seem acceptable to them, and makes this generation weak in our response to such. The idea of democracy is what makes us weak in our response to activist judges who respond to public opinion instead of the laws enacted by our elected representatives. Not nitpicking at all. Why are these nations, where we are doing nation building, adopting (with our blessing) unstable parliamentary forms that respond to mob opinion and violence rather than republican systems that are strictly guided by the rule of law? These things are not nit picky.