USA: is it still a democracy?

[lightPainting]

I know that we are still a democracy at the state level, but the national? Over 80% of US citizen want universal backround checks in order to buy a gun, but the bill didn't pass. even a weaker version of the bill didn't pass. When it comes to cutting medical care, over 90% of america dosen't want to cut it. But it still got cut. So what do you guys think? is the US lossing its democracy?

[CharlieHorse]

There is and never was a perfect democracy in history.
Just like how there was never a perfect communism.

[Stronk Serb]

Yes. Like with every regime, it has it's rise of freedom and fall into tyranny. The United States are falling into tyranny, albeit very slowly.

[Ace of Spades]

There is and never was a perfect democracy in history.
Just like how there was never a perfect communism.

There was never a perfect anything in history

[WaffleSingSong]

No, we have not been for awhile. The people with power and money are the ones that get there policies in office. Interest groups and corporations use PAC's and other methods to fatten up Congressmen's wallets while completely turning the cheek to what is right or wrong. No matter of there an Elephant or a Donkey sitting in a chair of power, at the end of the day there just a Snake, a son or daughter of a two-headed dragon trying to act like two different dragons.

[Ace of Spades]

I think that those who say that the US is turning into a tyrannical country truly don't know what tyranny is or how it works.

[WaffleSingSong]

I think that those who say that the US is turning into a tyrannical country truly don't know what tyranny is or how it works.

Tyranny, by definition, is power gained and/or then maintained though fear and/or force. Technically, every nation is a tyranny, is just how they use and how much they use the tyranny to protect people or to help the government's interests.

[Ace of Spades]

Tyranny, by definition, is power gained and/or then maintained though fear and/or force. Technically, every nation is a tyranny, is just how they use and how much they use the tyranny to protect people or to help the government's interests.

I disagree. The leader of a tyrannical government, a tyrant, in modern English usage, is a ruler who is an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution, and/or one who has usurped legitimate sovereignty.
Not every nation is tyrannical.

[britishboy]

the USAs is a great country and democracy, the only people who think differently are them communists that hate the west. the example the op made is politics

[WaffleSingSong]

I disagree. The leader of a tyrannical government, a tyrant, in modern English usage, is a ruler who is an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution, and/or one who has usurped legitimate sovereignty.
Not every nation is tyrannical.

I am going by "Tyranny," not "Tyrant." I agree with you that every government is not a tyrannical government and with your definition of one, but every government uses at least a slither of tyranny in some shape or form.

the USAs is a great country and democracy, the only people who think differently are them communists that hate the west. the example the op made is politics

The U.S is a great country, but it has a shitty government. The few rich and powerful control a lot of what goes on around here. You want to call be a commie just because I do not like my government? I am a proud left-leaning Libertarian, and by no means hate the west. I go with Gandhi's statement on my opinion of the west, and that "It would be a good idea."


-merged double post. -Emerald Dream

[britishboy]

The U.S is a great country, but it has a shitty government. The few rich and powerful control a lot of what goes on around here. You want to call be a commie just because I do not like my government? I am a proud left-leaning Libertarian, and by no means hate the west. I go with Gandhi's statement on my opinion of the west, and that "It would be a good idea."

no I ment the communists hate America simply because they hate the west

[Twilly F. Sniper]

Yes.
Perfection is Impossible.

[WaffleSingSong]

no I ment the communists hate America simply because they hate the west

I do not think all of them necessarily hate the west and America, just really disagree with it and it's ideals. But, some communists do have blind disdain for the west.

[LouBerry]

Bills pass because of the Senate and House members, appointed by each state. You know that. We elect those people. If we elect the wrong people, they will not represent us as we please. Of course America is still a democracy. You don't have to look far to find people, Republican or Democrat alike, that want nothing but the best for our country.

[workingatperfect]

The United States is a democratic republic.

Now, it's been a while since I took Government, but I think that basically means that our power on a national level is filtered by the people we choose to represent us in the government. That's why in a presidential election, one candidate can win the popular vote, but lose the election.

[tovaris]

was it ever?

[Origami]

Bills pass because of the Senate and House members, appointed by each state. You know that. We elect those people. If we elect the wrong people, they will not represent us as we please. Of course America is still a democracy. You don't have to look far to find people, Republican or Democrat alike, that want nothing but the best for our country.

This. America is a democracy, but the mass majority who can vote elect the wrong officials to office. And with education being less and less important in young people's eyes with each passing generation, don't expect good-hearted people to be elected any time soon.

[LouBerry]

This. America is a democracy, but the mass majority who can vote elect the wrong officials to office. And with education being less and less important in young people's eyes with each passing generation, don't expect good-hearted people to be elected any time soon.

Exactly. Plus, you hear all about the millions of people complaining about how our country is run, let me give you a few statistics.

Total number of Americans eligible to vote: 206,072,000.
Total number of Americans registered to vote: 146,311,000

Only a little over half of Americans have even registered to vote.

Out of them, only 131,144,000 actually did.

This means that out of all the people eligible to vote, only 64% did.

This is why people feel that they are not properly represented.

[lightPainting]

this is where I got the idea for this thread
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udX-PhOTXVo&list=HL1370213306&feature=mh_lolz

[Cygnus]

Yes. Like with every regime, it has it's rise of freedom and fall into tyranny. The United Statesbare falling into tyranny, albeit very slowly.

I couldn't agree more.

[Pinkamena]

The USA is still very much a democracy, the biggest problem is that the people are under-educated and therefore don't know how much power they can really hold.

Imagine this:
You are running for the House of Representatives in your district. You look out on all the people in your area that could potentially be voting on you. The vast majority of them are dumbasses, and more concerned with making money, doing their dead-end jobs, supporting families, ect. than actually watching the election.
You get out there, tell them what they want to hear, and get elected because you probably didn't say anything that offended too many of them, and got on TV enough(Which is what determines who wins, really).
Once you're in office, about 50 different companies approach you, offering to pay you 20,000$ for voting a certain way on something.
Well, considering all the ignoramuses that voted for you don't care in the first place, you take the money and vote ___ on the ___ bill. The people don't like that, though, but whatever. You're already in office.

After that guy gets kicked out, the same thing happened.
Seriously, people need to sit down, and read the bill of rights. Takes like, 5 minutes at the most if you're a slow reader.

The two parties that have a monopoly on politics don't properly represent ALL Americans, either.

[Walter Powers]

I know that we are still a democracy at the state level, but the national? Over 80% of US citizen want universal backround checks in order to buy a gun, but the bill didn't pass. even a weaker version of the bill didn't pass. When it comes to cutting medical care, over 90% of america dosen't want to cut it. But it still got cut. So what do you guys think? is the US lossing its democracy?

It didn't pass because of widespread agreement that it's that state's right to decide that kind of thing. That actually helps make the case the our Federal system is still healthy.

Yes. Like with every regime, it has it's rise of freedom and fall into tyranny. The United States are falling into tyranny, albeit very slowly.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-Thomas Jefferson

Exactly. Plus, you hear all about the millions of people complaining about how our country is run, let me give you a few statistics.

Total number of Americans eligible to vote: 206,072,000.
Total number of Americans registered to vote: 146,311,000

Only a little over half of Americans have even registered to vote.

Out of them, only 131,144,000 actually did.

This means that out of all the people eligible to vote, only 64% did.

This is why people feel that they are not properly represented.

I think that's a good thing, though. You shouldn't be voting if you don't feel like you know enough about the candidates.

-merged multiple posts. -Emerald Dream

[Cygnus]

*Sigh* The US is close to falling as a "superpower", they dug their own graves already. It is loosing its democratic essence, only two parties is too little, and your "left and right" sides of politics are a small portion of the true left and right.

[Walter Powers]

The USA is still very much a democracy, the biggest problem is that the people are under-educated and therefore don't know how much power they can really hold.

Imagine this:
You are running for the House of Representatives in your district. You look out on all the people in your area that could potentially be voting on you. The vast majority of them are dumbasses, and more concerned with making money, doing their dead-end jobs, supporting families, ect. than actually watching the election.
You get out there, tell them what they want to hear, and get elected because you probably didn't say anything that offended too many of them, and got on TV enough(Which is what determines who wins, really).
Once you're in office, about 50 different companies approach you, offering to pay you 20,000$ for voting a certain way on something.
Well, considering all the ignoramuses that voted for you don't care in the first place, you take the money and vote ___ on the ___ bill. The people don't like that, though, but whatever. You're already in office.

After that guy gets kicked out, the same thing happened.
Seriously, people need to sit down, and read the bill of rights. Takes like, 5 minutes at the most if you're a slow reader.

The two parties that have a monopoly on politics don't properly represent ALL Americans, either.

You hit the nail right on the head.

[Korashk]

was it ever?
No, America has never been and was never intended to be a democracy. It's a constitutional republic, which is way different and a lot better in concept even though in recent years things have been relatively bad (as opposed to actually bad).

Democracy is one of the worst forms of government in my opinion mainly because large groups of humans tend to behave extremely stupidly.

[tovaris]

No, America has never been and was never intended to be a democracy. It's a constitutional republic, which is way different and a lot better in concept even though in recent years things have been relatively bad (as opposed to actually bad).

Democracy is one of the worst forms of government in my opinion mainly because large groups of humans tend to behave extremely stupidly.

Large gruos of people are thw basis of freedom.