"A government is republican in proportion as every member composing it has his equal voice in the direction of its concerns, not indeed in person, which would be impracticable beyond the limits of a city or small township, but by representatives chosen by himself and responsible to him at short periods."
by:
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President
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To translate for the slow ones in the group: WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY! (...and never intended to be one... and to quote a more recent cogent thinker "More democracy equals less freeddom!")
 -- helorat, Milton     
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    Bang on helorat!! I am constantly reminding the unwashed that we are not living in a democracy, but a republic founded on democratic principles. That I believe is the source of our nation's political strength and adaptability, which will hopefully endure long after we are gone. So many good people have invested their lives and their honor for our Republic. We need to remember that in our political arguments. There really is an abyss out there.
     -- Eric Engstrom, Wichita, KS     
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    Good short explanation as to why we are a republic.
     -- warren, olathe     
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     -- Mike, Norwalk      
    Republican (not the party) representation works well when you have responsible politicians who respond to the will of the people. For those times that responsible politicians are few and far between in both major parties, I am grateful that my state as well as many others have an initiative/referendum process where the people can use the hammer of direct democracy on unresponsive, irresponsible politicians. That process should be used rarely, however.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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    The word 'democracy' that is used to describe American government should be replaced with 'representative republic'. Only after the Federal Reserve got its charter did Presidents start referring to the country as a democracy. Repeatedly we hear it in the news and from our 'elected' officials. I believe it is a socialist attempt to grant special privileges to propertyless citizens that they indeed do not have -- the idea that our inalienable rights are up for debate and subject to vote. Nothing could be further than the truth. The primary intent is to legalize theft by destroying the idea that the right to private property is an inalienable right.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Republic and democracy are only nuanced descriptions of the same thing. The prefix RE means "back", "again". So we have words like turn and return, do and redo, try and retry and public and republic. It means to go back to the people. If you don't like the word democracy maybe you like my favorite "Of, by, and for the people". Mr. Archer could you explain inalienable property rights versus imminent doman.
     -- Bruce, Alabama     
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    A very large difference Bruce. Dang you need an education. Must have gone to public school recently.
     -- Warren, Olathe     
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    What is the large big difference Warren? Could you explain yourself? "Of, by and for the people", re-public (back to the people), democracy "control vested in elective officers who may be upheld or removed by the people. Republic "a representative democracy". If you listen to Rush (by the way where is he now, jail, Vegas, on drugs or what) he will tell you "This is a republic not a democracy and so you should be a Republican and not a Democrat." Jefferson called his political party "The Democratic-Republican Party". Did you know that in England Public Schools are private institutions.
     -- Bruce, Alabama     
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    Ideally, the USA will become an actual democratic-republic, but unfortunately it is still an oligarchic-republic...where big-money gets to effectivey decide who the candidates are that we the people get to choose from with our votes...
     -- EF, CA     
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     -- Ronw13, ID      

    Use the word "republican" to describe the form of government, not 'democracy.'  A 'republic' does not necessarily mean a republican form of government — see the USSR and other totalitarian states. 

    A 'republican' refers to one who supports a republican form of government.  A 'democrat' refers to one who supports a democracy which is little more than 51 people telling 100 people what they must do — often those 51 are easily swayed by a few designing men. 

    The republican form of government is the only one that is not at constant war with the rights of the people — all others are 'statist' forms, i.e. wherein the government (the State) is sovereign and supreme, and the people are subservient and subjects. 

    The republican form of government is subservient to the People that created it, who are each sovereign in their own capacity with inalienable rights that can never be voted or legislated away by the State.  The State is subject and subservient to We The People.  The State is to be comprised of representatives of the People who have their equal rights before the Law.

    The true battle is between republicans and statists.  The governments of the USA are guaranteed to be republican by the US and State Constitutions.  Not everything may be put up for vote.  The cause of republican government is to protect the Liberty of the People, not to dictate.  The Bill of Rights sets limits on the government, not the People.

    When democrats say that republicans are a threat to "our democracy" they are absolutely right!  And well we should be!  "Our democracy" means "our power," and that power has been unlawfully claimed by 'democrats' over the rights of the People to 'govern' themselves — that is to say, to be responsible for themselves without dictates from the State.

    In the words of Javier Milei, the new libertarian president-elect of Argentina: 

    “I did not come here to guide lambs. I came here to awaken lions.”


     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Archer, I love that Javier Milei's quote, I enjoy slipping that in here and there, good job.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Anyone who would have the unmitigated gall to think they could own and enslave a human being has lost all credibility with me. We don't need this kind of mentality. We are going to build a real nation where are all are treated with real sincere respect and love. Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create. 
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Mr Archer, being put in the same category as a lamb or the "proud" lion seems quite irrelevant, as well as childish. Interestingly, education of the individual would leave us without politicians and politics, but we have progress.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Correction:, but we would have progress.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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