Social Question

ragingloli's avatar

Why do people who say "We are not a democracy, we are a republic." not understand that a republic is a specific type of democracy?

Asked by ragingloli (52019points) August 21st, 2009
2 responses
“Great Question” (0points)

democracy
|
|________direct democracy
|
|________indirect democracy, incl. republic

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kyanblue's avatar

Oh, it’s like the parallelogram-rectangle-rhombus-square thing!

Being one of those people…I think I’m just echoing what other people have told me (history teachers in particular). I’m fairly sure I learned somewhere along the line that a republic is an indirect democracy, but it didn’t stick.

Quite a few bits of knowledge I have I learned from others…I don’t always investigate to makes sure they’re not misleading me.

alive's avatar

at times, i am one to say something along the lines of “We are not a democracy, we are a republic.”

i understand that our government is a FORM of democracy, but I think it is important to distinguish a general form of something into its specific form.

I can say “cereal” for a general term. but if i am being specific and ask for cornflakes and get cornpuffs, im not gunna be happy (i really hate those things! yuck!)

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