General Discussion

earthside

(6,960 posts)

29. Representative of what?

Reply to Fantastic Anarchist (Reply #13)

Thu Sep 19, 2013, 10:15 PM

Sep 2013

That's the problem with a 'republic'.

The PRC is certainly a 'republic' ... however, there is only one party so only Communist Party members can ever be elected to government office; they do have elections in 'Red' China so it is a 'republic'.

So, the two terms are not exclusive of one another as some right-wingers would have us believe.

You can have a 'republic' that is an elected dictatorship because sovereignty is held by one party or one clique of powerful people -- not a democracy.
Or you can have a genuine 'democratic republic' where the sovereignty resides with all of the people.

I think that theoretically, as we were all taught in eighth grade civics, the USA is a democratic republic.

Whenever I hear this "we are a republic, not a democracy' line come-up, I know immediately that I'm dealing with a John Bircher or some other sundry right-wing fanatic.

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Highlight:

This is NOT a Democracy it's a Republic [View all] cal04 Sep 2013 OP

That the country is a Republic is a favorite teabagger claim. They need to pull out a bluestate10 Sep 2013 #1

first you have to teach them to read. hobbit709 Sep 2013 #25

Rev Al won't let them get away with that stuff. Graybeard Sep 2013 #2

Like the Republic of Iran, or the Congo, or the People's Republic of North Korea? OnyxCollie Sep 2013 #3

What are the first words in the Constitution? JackRiddler Sep 2013 #4

If I may, this was pushed by the Old Dominion reps nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #6

Sure, you don't have to sell me on the North. JackRiddler Sep 2013 #8

I started the book yesterday nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #10

Democracy or Republic SamKnause Sep 2013 #5

In theory, it is a democratic republic. kentuck Sep 2013 #7

Plutocracy and global empire... JackRiddler Sep 2013 #9

Technically, it's a constitutional republic that uses representative democracy. NuclearDem Sep 2013 #11

Where did this meme start Proud Liberal Dem Sep 2013 #12

This sort of thing has been around since at least the '60s Art_from_Ark Sep 2013 #20

Yeah Proud Liberal Dem Sep 2013 #22

I have no idea! Art_from_Ark Sep 2013 #23

I've heard it before from some right-wingers Proud Liberal Dem Sep 2013 #24

That sounds entirely plausible Art_from_Ark Sep 2013 #27

Lot of teabaggers think they are (or will be at some undefined point in the future) Proud Liberal Dem Sep 2013 #31

Republic equals Republican, democracy equals Democratic. OnyxCollie Sep 2013 #34

A republic is essentially a representative democracy ... Fantastic Anarchist Sep 2013 #13

I think it's actually used to define any government that isn't a monarchy. NuclearDem Sep 2013 #15

Yep ... Fantastic Anarchist Sep 2013 #16

I think that the important distinction is that it is a Constitutional grantcart Sep 2013 #19

I agree ... Fantastic Anarchist Sep 2013 #32

Representative of what? earthside Sep 2013 #29

I agree with you. Fantastic Anarchist Sep 2013 #33

It's not paradise, but it's turning into a parade ground. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2013 #14

America in practice is not a democracy... YoungDemCA Sep 2013 #17

Specifically this country is a constitutional republic. no_hypocrisy Sep 2013 #18

Saw that live malaise Sep 2013 #21

dumb fucking teabagger gopiscrap Sep 2013 #26

The land of equivocation! immoderate Sep 2013 #28

I hate that line MFrohike Sep 2013 #30