Would you consider the US a democracy in 1776?
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Ancient Grudge
Its all in this life
I have no idea about the USA electoral system at all.Sorry.
An open ballot is were the people that voted had to declare who they had voted for in front of a crowd.
The arguement for this was that if you weren't man enough to tell everyone who you voted for, then you weren't man enough to have the vote.
An open ballot is were the people that voted had to declare who they had voted for in front of a crowd.
The arguement for this was that if you weren't man enough to tell everyone who you voted for, then you weren't man enough to have the vote.
Sims2789
Fool me once...
Zarn said:
I AM SO SICK OF PEOPLE SAYING "WELL, TECHNICALLY, UH, A FEDERAL REPUBLIC ISN'T A DEMOCRACY."!!! i BELIEVE WHAT THE STARTER OF THIS THREAD MEANT BY "DEMOCRACY" WAS A DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A GOVERNMENT WHERE EVERY CITIZEN VOTES ON EVERY SINGLE THING. SHEEESH.
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stormbind said:
The fact that a non-elected king had significant political power, even if not absolute, is enough to put Britain of that time below democratic republics in terms of democracy.
I have no idea how all the mechanisms worked, but I do know that King George, who had a fair ammount of power, was never elected while the american presidents were. And with very rare exceptions, the american presidents also had popular majority, so the Electoral College argument is moot.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Sims2789 said:
I see you continue to show your true colors. It isn't Democratic. It just shows you do not know the definition. Democracy is horrible on national levels for nations of this size. Go to a college, already!
Perfection
The Great Head.
I would argue that the U.S. is a democracy.
While, clearly the U.S. isn't a deomcracy under the Athenian definition it clearly falls under the umbrella of representative democracies. I would argue that democracy really revolves along the premise of putting the governmental power in the hands of the people weather it be directly or indirectly. When the power is derived from the people I think it is justifiable to call it a democracy.
While, clearly the U.S. isn't a deomcracy under the Athenian definition it clearly falls under the umbrella of representative democracies. I would argue that democracy really revolves along the premise of putting the governmental power in the hands of the people weather it be directly or indirectly. When the power is derived from the people I think it is justifiable to call it a democracy.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Perfection said:
Careful with those words. Representative Democracy is a fancy way of saying Republic, Perfection. You will (hopefully) learn about it in college.
cgannon64
BOB DYLAN'S ROCKIN OUT!
Sims2789 said:
There's a new one: Blaming the Civil Rights Act for those damn corporations owning everything!
EDIT: Sims, I see some angry rant of yours quoted about how people should stop being smartasses and saying we're not a democracy (which I agree with)...but why do you say that after you just said, as I quoted, we're not a democracy?
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
Republic means nothing else than that the country is ruled by someone who's not a king, a prince or an emperor. North Korea is a republic, China is a republic, France is a republic, the US is a republic, Cuba is a republic. However, not all are democracies.Zarn said:
Being a democracy simply means that the leaders are elected by the people for a mandate limited in time. Britain is a democracy, Germany is a democracy, the US is a democracy, Mexico is a democracy, Sweden is a democracy. However, not all are republics.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Marla_Singer said:
Marla, in order to understand, you must understand the US definition of the word. Petty insults such as the 'junior high school' bit will get you nowhere. I only said college to those others, because they haven't reached college age yet. US definition of Democracy is mob rule. Democracy is voting on the ISSUES not just politicians. US citizens don't vote on federal issues.
US is a federal republic. France is a Republic. China and Cuba are dictaorships and not Republics. The UK is a Constitutional Monarchy.
Perfection
The Great Head.
No, representative democracy means more then just a republic, a republic can have special powers for the aristocracy (such as a legislative body), while a representative democracy roots all powers from the people. A representative democracy is a type of republic, but it's not merely a fancy way to say it. That is why I would argue that the U.S. while still a republic is a democracy and why it would be improper not to recognize it as such.Zarn said:
Perfection
The Great Head.
Not in my experience.Zarn said:
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
I absolutely don't care about the US definition of the word. The world doesn't have to think like Americans. You should learn to accept diversity.Zarn said:
That makes me think of Bush declaring few days after the September 11th that he would start a "crusade in the Middle East". Every observers, politicians and journalists directly told to everyone that he was thinking of the US meaning of the word...
Does the US President really think that only Americans listen to him ?The whole Middle East has heard his declaration ! Explaining them that crusade wasn't the word he meant after he invaded Iraq is really a tough issue you know.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Perfection said:
Not true. That is the high school propaganda defination. I know, as I have taken high school politics, where they give deifintions so everyone is happy and feels included, etc...
Depending on how enlightened your college proffesors are, you will see the true definations of each. Even Democrat college proffesors know that we are not a Democracy.
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
Wow I'm angry today... 
Sorry to yell but I've just seen something which pissed me off on TV, don't take it personally Zarn.
Sorry to yell but I've just seen something which pissed me off on TV, don't take it personally Zarn.
Marla_Singer
United in diversity
So would you say that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a Republic ?Zarn said:
I would be glad to see the face of Brits hearing so.
Democracy and Republic had the SAME meaning until James Madison changed it to Mob Rule. He wrote a letter to a diplomat and friend in France that it was merely to a PR stunt to gain support for the constitution. It was in one of the federalist paper.
We are a limited Democracy.
We are a limited Democracy.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Marla_Singer said:Wow I'm angry today...
Sorry to yell but I've just seen something which pissed me off on TV, don't take it personally Zarn.
No problem. I'm used to alot worse. I'm a Republican in the U.S. Industrial Belt (between Boston and Washington), afterall.
Just imagine trying to argue your politics in Texas, and you will see what I mean. Being outnumbered is never any fun.
Zarn
Le Républicain Catholique
Marla_Singer said:So would you say that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a Republic ?
I would be glad to see the face of Brits hearing so.
No, I believe they are a Consitutional Monarchy. That is also a representative government, with the Royal family making it not a republic.
Perfection
The Great Head.
I remain skeptical, as common usage seems to indicate otherwise. The whole idea that the media and politicians use the term "democratic elections" as electing representitives is testiment to this idea. So, if your professors are sticking by the classical definition they are not updating the word for modern usage.Zarn said:
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