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> The US is a republic, not a democracy. At the risk of sounding snarky, this line has become a major eye roller for me. Are there any democracies on Earth, by
by DiggyJohnson 3y ago
> The US is a republic, not a democracy.
At the risk of sounding snarky, this line has become a major eye roller for me. Are there any democracies on Earth, by this definition?
- chrisco255 3y agoIt's a democratic republic in the sense that we have a direct election of leaders and lawmakers. It's a bit pedantic because nowadays people use them interchangeably but we don't really have direct elections over the laws themselves (not at the federal level anyways, some states do allow for direct votes on amendments at the state and local level).
- paulddraper 3y agoIt's a spectrum, but the more weight the popular vote carries, the further towards that end it is. People today think of the US as one "country" but when its Constitution was written it was much closer to the EU: an alliance and economic free trade and free movement area with basic shared rules. The vote to create the United States was done by unanimity of Member States not by a popular vote. Is the EU a "democracy"?
- WalterBright 3y agoAthens was.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- ianburrell 3y agoThis use of republic is particular to the US. Recently, it has became particular to the Republican Party. Some of it is from the earlier usage, but I suspect it is really to contrast the Republican and Democratic parties.