Why do Americans often say the U.S.A. is a democracy?

This isn't a democracy; it's a cheerocracy

AmericanDemocracy! wrote:

American Democracy : Here are two Ivy League Grads... Pick One. we're basically just picking the same rich white guy every time. in america, there is no such thing as true democracy. once people wake up to this idea, maybe (MAYBE) things could change for the better.

enquiring minds wrote:

What? Reagan, Carter, Nixon, Johnson, Eisenhower, and Truman were not born rich, nor went to Ivy schools. Clinton wasn't born rich, either.

I guess you're talking about Bush and Kennedy, as white, Ivy League, and born rich.

But Ford went to "the Harvard of the West."

I've always been told by teachers that the USA is a Democratic Republic. Congress is directly elected by the people and the president is elected by the Electoral college.

topnotchrunner wrote:

I've always been told by teachers that the USA is a Democratic Republic. Congress is directly elected by the people and the president is elected by the Electoral college.

The President is elected by the people through the Electoral College, in direct proportion to the States' representation in Congress.

topnotchrunner wrote:

I've always been told by teachers that the USA is a Democratic Republic. Congress is directly elected by the people and the president is elected by the Electoral college.

Like the German Democratic Republic. lol

Talk talk talk wrote:

Jimmy Hoffa wrote:

That's right...the US is a republic. Were it a democracy, Al Gore would have actually been elected in 2000 and we would not be at war in Iraq.

Are you that naive? Freedom of information act has allowed for all the recounts and guess what?...BUSH WON!!! It was Gore who tried to "steal the election!" get on with life and learn your country's government so you will understand how fair it is. It is much better than a pure democracy!

Umm, Gore won the popular vote. If the election was purely democratic, he would have won. The silly electoral college system is what gave it to Bush.

We're a Republic now. In my lifetime, it will probably become the People's Republic of the USA.

When asked by a woman on the streets what the founders gave the people at the constitutional convention, Benjamin Franklin answered, "A Republic, if you can keep it!"

Umm, Gore won the popular vote. If the election was purely democratic, he would have won. The silly electoral college system is what gave it to Bush.

gee, that silly electoral college has only been around for hundreds of years, you act like it was the first time it was ever used

malmo wrote:

The President is elected by the people through the Electoral College, in direct proportion to the States' representation in Congress.

Not exactly.

idunnowhat? wrote:

It's a republic (constitutional republic) isn't it? Americans vote for people to make laws for them. I suppose they say that the process is democratic, but it isn't really a democracy is it?

It is a "democratic society" with a government that is a republic structure. We do get to vote in a democratic manner, but we do not get any say in say cabinet members, supreme court justice. They have a 2 step process; nominated by pres and confirmed by the senate. School's out

Jimmy Hoffa wrote:

That's right...the US is a republic. Were it a democracy, Al Gore would have actually been elected in 2000 and we would not be at war in Iraq.

right, gore would be president, and we would be at war in America

Whatttttttt wrote:

Are you stupid??????????? Do you know how many of those votes weren't counted(chads)????? Oh, btw they were black people.

Please never post again.

malmo wrote:

topnotchrunner wrote:

I've always been told by teachers that the USA is a Democratic Republic. Congress is directly elected by the people and the president is elected by the Electoral college.

The President is elected by the people through the Electoral College, in direct proportion to the States' representation in Congress.

However, the electoral votes are not given proportionally. When a candidate wins a state 51% to 49%, he/she gets ALL the electoral votes, not just a percentage