I don't know if we're debating semantics or if the hate for the democratic party is such that we can no longer admit the US is a democracy.

Originally Posted By: Derid
Constitutional Republic


A republic, constitutional or otherwise, without the democratic part (democratic republic or representative democracy), is a country ran by an unelected legislature. China is a constitutional republic. The bananna republics I mentioned were ran by wealthy landowners where the citizens had zero say in their government. The idea of a republic started in Rome where the Senate were appointed by status (a combination of wealth, heredity and accomplishments). This notoriously caused a lot of problems because they were completely oblivious to the needs of the citizens of a growing empire. The House of Lords in Britian, unelected representitives, is exactly why we had a revolution in the first place.

A true democracry, which keeps being brought up without definition, is a country that doesn't have a legislature. All laws, treaties, and administrative appointments are drafted and ratified by the public. This has never been in consideration because the logistics for anything larger than a city-state is bat-shit crazy.

This isn't a philosophical debate of the interests of the masses vs. the interests of the individual. This is concrete bureaucratic organization.

Originally Posted By: Derid
stability is not necessarily the best metric

Then what is? GDP, happiness, freedom? These countries work, and they work well.

Originally Posted By: Derid
mob rule

I would firmly argue that the West Europe, East Asia, South America, Oceanic democracies are far removed from mob rule.

Originally Posted By: Derid
Bahrain

Is a great example. Previously, the US would rush in defense of the monarchy. The US was very careful not to support them this time around.

Originally Posted By: Derid
Pipelinistan

I'm not naive enough to suggest we don't have shady dealings with shady governments, especially in indo-asia. Just, that in the case of a democratic revolution, the US now either supports the revolution either through action (Egypt) or inaction (Bahrain). To brush off this apparrant policy change as merely lip-service goes against both recent events and our conviction that citizens should have a say in their governence.