Please don't blame the Dims alone about this now: time after time we hear Republucans (who I think should know better) sing the praises of democracy, mention the "fact" of America being a democracy, etc. etc.
It is all a LIE, however well intentioned it may be. American NEVER WAS a democracy, is not a democracy now (in spite of the growing influence of voter ballot initiatives & changing their own state constitutions by majority vote)....& we should hope & pray that it will NEVER become a democracy.
America will always remain a Republic as long as the 2nd Amendment stands. The very minute that it falls, we will have become a Democracy - with all the horrible things that become of all Democracies.
As for nations abroad that have become 'democracies' through our assistance, note that they are generally set up as Constitutional Republics. Even Vladimir Putin openly refers to the new system of government in Russia as a constitutional republic rather than a democracy. Afghanistan, the newest Republic on Earth, is set up to follow their Constitution. Iraq will follow suit as well.
The only ones in the US who desire - no, demand that we become a Democracy are the Rats. Go figure.