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Freedom, Democracy, and the Republic

buddhist

buddhist

Well-Known Member
The several united States are Republics, governments which are (supposedly) ruled by Law. Not Democracies, which is rule by mob (majority).

Why do so many people conflate the two terms (Republic & Democracy)? Or, do they perhaps falsely identify the word "Democracy" with "Freedom"?
 
Quetzal

Quetzal

A little to the left and slightly out of focus.
Premium Member
buddhist said:
The several united States are Republics, governments which are (supposedly) ruled by Law. Not Democracies, which is rule by mob (majority).

Why do so many people conflate the two terms (Republic & Democracy)? Or, do they perhaps falsely identify the word "Democracy" with "Freedom"?
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They are mixed up by the media, music, movies and even our very own president elect. Not hard to see why it gets passed around.
 
YmirGF

YmirGF

Bodhisattva in Recovery
Nietzsche said:
Because we're a Democratic Republic.
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While true, it's not the same as a flat out democracy. Personally, I blame Trump. Heck, he is even affecting Obama who recently was babbling about the US being a democracy.
 
Kuzcotopia

Kuzcotopia

If you can read this, you are as lucky as I am.
Using the term democracy is shorthand for representative democracy.

It's the same thing.

And there are propositions and measures on a given ballot that are passed in direct vote, but not many.
 
buddhist

buddhist

Well-Known Member
YmirGF said:
Personally, I blame Trump. Heck, he is even affecting Obama who recently was babbling about the US being a democracy.
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If neither of them can get this basic concept right or communicate it properly, why should anyone trust them to run government?
 
Augustus

Augustus

…
buddhist said:
The USA isn't even a representative democracy. It's not a democracy at all. It's a representative republic.
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What do you think the word democracy means?

It is perfectly accurate to refer to America as a democracy, which in modern usage does not relate to a single clearly defined system of government. Numerous political systems can accurately be referred to as democracies.
 
Twilight Hue

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
buddhist said:
The USA isn't even a representative democracy. It's not a democracy at all. It's a representative republic.
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That's correct. Its interesting however in light that the United States was deemed an Oligarchy in recent years as opposed to a representative republic that those designations will carry the same weight as in the past.
 
Augustus

Augustus

…
buddhist said:
There seems to be many simpletons - like 0bama and Trump - who falsely use "democracy" instead of the far more accurate "republic" then. ;)
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It's not false though.

You are arbitrarily choosing an archaic definition and insisting that this is the only acceptable usage of the term. Word usage has changed in the centuries since the founding fathers were about, that's just the way language works.

I'd have more sympathy for your argument if the rest of your post was in 18th C English as at least you would be being consistent.

In your opinion though, what makes a republic 'rule by law', but democracy (in all its forms) simply 'rule by mob'?
 
buddhist

buddhist

Well-Known Member
Augustus said:
It's not false though.

You are arbitrarily choosing an archaic definition and insisting that this is the only acceptable usage of the term. Word usage has changed in the centuries since the founding fathers were about, that's just the way language works.

I'd have more sympathy for your argument if the rest of your post was in 18th C English as at least you would be being consistent.

In your opinion though, what makes a republic 'rule by law', but democracy (in all its forms) simply 'rule by mob'?
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The definitions are in both the old & current law dictionaries
 
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