Posted on 02/23/2007 4:06:53 AM PST by don-o
You can have a representative republic or a representative democracy. A republic has political divisions within it, while a democracy does not. Legislation enacted with ballot initiatives happen in a direct democracy. Some states allow for direct democracy, while some do not.
If all of the fed legislators were elected by a nationwide vote, regardless of internal political divisions, you'd have a representative democracy.
It doesn't matter anymore. Only pedants, intent on being hipper-than-thou, criticize those using democracy to describe American government.
There has never existed a country governed as a democracy, as Barton defines it. His tone is as of Lord Poobah lecturing the masses.
It matters. Millions of Americans believe that the 200 election was stolen, because they consider the United States to be a democracy. And if the United States were a democracy, Al Gore should have been president. If the electoral college is abolished, it will be because Americans do not understand the difference between a federal republic and a democracy. It matters. Today.
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