> in which the supreme power is vested in the people We don't have that. We get to pick from a closed set of possible representatives and they aren't bound to

> in which the supreme power is vested in the people We don't have that. We get to pick from a closed set of possible representatives and they aren't bound to follow our desires. (Or even check...) It's not the indirection of the representative, it's that they aren't required to even try to represent. Your vote in the USA essentially elects a mini-tyrant who theoretically wants to be elected again so much that they'll pander to you in exchange for that but only so far as they can use you. As soon as they'll get enough money by selling you out to compensate for your lost vote, they will. And worse, this is how it's supposed to work.