We’ve all heard the claim that the system of government in America is a republic, not a democracy. In every case I’ve seen, myself included, this is just accepted. But today I looked into it and found that it is actually not true. Not exactly, anyway.
The problem is that there are no hard and fast rules to say precisely what type of government a country has in a single word. There are many different types of republics, just as there are many different types of democracies. America is definitely not a “direct democracy” where every citizen votes on every issue. But it absolutely does fit the definitions of republic, constitutional democracy and representative democracy. So yeah, America is a republic. It’s also two types of democracy. It’s also a democratic republic.
In my experience this statement is usually thrown out to “muddy the water” in a partisan argument wherein one side (always the conservative side) is trying to justify actions intended to dilute democracy, especially by disenfranchising voters, most often nonwhite voters. These days, especially, we need to keep them from changing the subject with an argument on semantics.
That is exactly why I posted this. In every case I can remember it coming up it was used as a red herring when they realized their position was indefensible otherwise. For example, when arguing for the electoral college even though it has been heavily gerrymandered in Republican’s favor. There is no legitimate defense to subverting the will of the people and replacing it with your own. So they use this red herring to make the argument go away.
What I’m saying is that there is no one single definition for what the US system of government it. It’s a democratic republic, it’s a constitutional democracy and it’s a representative democracy. Government is complicated. There is no one simple term which can fully describe everything a particular government is, at least as long as the people have legitimate rights and protections from the government and a complex governing body to protect that.
I remember when things like that used to inspire patriotism. That was before Republicans redefined “patriotism” to mean “support us in all things”. That started with Jr’s senseless revenge war and his “Support our troops” nonsense which really meant, “If you criticize the unnecessary war I started for revenge then you are not a patriot. And we’re going to pretend it means that you want our troops to die horribly in a foreign land at the hands of our enemies because you hate America.”
Take heart. McConnell has declared that democracy will live for now because he’s tired of holding Trump’s hand and steering him toward the “proper” policy. And in January we’ll likely have a real leader again. We did hit a whopping 100,000 diagnoses today, but we’ll either soon be getting it under control or we’ll all be dead and won’t have to worry about it any more. I see hope for the first time in 4 years.
I have no doubt that Trump will throw a tantrum and purposely, essentially, murder people so he can point to the numbers, which he’ll suddenly start accepting from officials, to say, “Look what Biden did! It got much worse when he took over!”
Thing is, the virus rages from now until Biden is inaugurated Jan. 20.
Glad to know when it will end. Biden is so powerful the virus will just give up upon seeing him inaugurated! Wow, if only we could enthrone him next Tuesday. All hail the virus killer. Yep, all will be fine on Jan 21.
I hope it includes actions similar to to "peaceful" transition of power following (and preceding) the 2016 election. Seems like there may be several reasons to impeach or do whatever the Senate can do to ensure our rights to free and fair elections.
I hope it includes actions similar to to “peaceful” transition of power following (and preceding) the 2016 election.
Actually Obama really tried to do a serious "transition process" with Trump - it's Trumps team that shit on his goodwill.
Tell me are Republican going to cooperate, and engage in a ground-up, civil transition or will they act like spoiled brats who believe they own the football.
Hey Trump was always unfit - Cheating people out of honestly earned wages.
Being a proud pussy grabber and misogynist.
He built his campaign around lying about Obama’s Birth Certificate.
His Trump University was a criminal activity.
He was a baiting racist.
He was so stupid he actually believed, believes, he’s the smarter person alive.
And it was dirty politics, and Russian social media bots that won him his election.
That just for starters
All the President’s Lies About the Coronavirus
An unfinished compendium of Trump’s overwhelming dishonesty during a national emergency
Glad to know when it will end. Biden is so powerful the virus will just give up upon seeing him inaugurated! Wow, if only we could enthrone him next Tuesday. All hail the virus killer. Yep, all will be fine on Jan 21.
Again you misunderstand my words. The virus will not magically go away on day one, but it will start to get better, slowly from that day onward due to the plan that President Biden will put into place on day one. He is currently doing what a president elect is suppose to do prior to inauguration- getting his ducks in a row, appointing the people he needs in various positions, and be ready to work on day one. Something that the dotard never did because he was too busy watching TV, eating, tweeting, and playing golf.
can you explain what the qualities that miserable excuse for a human had/has that qualify him to be president?
He is anti-socialist and that alone is enough. He supports Israel and recognizes that Islam truly is the greatest threat we've ever had to western civilization. These overshadow his many faults.
Biden, if he gets in (it ain’t over yet) will likely be the cause of WW-III by letting Iran get nuke weapons. I wonder how mushroom clouds will fit in with the green new deal.
I’m convinced that most of the people who voted for Biden would gladly replace Christianity in the US and the rest of the world with Islam. Those who would are fools. I’d bet that Mriana wouldn’t like wearing a black shroud to work or being told she had to face Mecca and pray five times a day.
I’m convinced that most of the people who voted for Biden would gladly replace Christianity in the US and the rest of the world with Islam.
Where do you get this idea? The U.S. is not a Xian nation. In fact, the Constitution is not based on any religion. The forefathers wanted a secular nation for all people- thus the First Amendment. The U.S. cannot establish any religion as the country’s religion or base any laws on that. Both sides- those who believe this is a Xian nation and those who want Islam (they don’t actually exist) are wrong. They U.S. is not a Xian nation, it’s not an Islamic nation, it’s not a Jewish or Hindu or any other religious nation.
Biden has more qualification to be president than the dotard does and he even acts more presidential than the dotard. IMHO we need to expand the qualifications for president than what we have now- starting with the experience and performance in that experience. Biden has done well in his career and has gained the experience to be president. The dotard has never had any experience and he goes straight to the top with no clue as to what is happening. AOC is gaining that experience and by the time she is old enough she can run for president because of it. I can expand on Biden’s experience, especially with fighting a pandemic, which he and President Obama did very well, among other things.