2020 Election MEGAthread

[BlackBellamy]

Originally Posted by Jibartik [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I often hear people argue that the United States is a republic, not a democracy. But that’s a false dichotomy. A common definition of “republic” is, “A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them” — we are that. A common definition of “democracy” is, “Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives” — we are that, too.

So is The Islamic Republic of Iran.

The supreme power is now vested in the people instead of a monarch. The country belongs to the people. No longer are leaders chosen by birthright, but anyone can study the sharia and rise to be the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Their democratic principles are enshrined in their constitution; did not their President rise from a young poor hostage-taker to become what he was, voted and elected by the people at every stage?

All hail the democratic republic of Iran.

All hail Deutsche Demokratische Republik as well I guess, posthumously anyway. Not exactly a paragon of freedom and justice there, but a democratic republic just the same.

And finally, while China describes it's government as "socialist consultative democracy" let's not forget that it's the People's Republic of China. So, another democratic republic? Seems to be. Welcome brothers!

My point is that these labels are essentially meaningless unless you just want to distinguish something from a monarchy for example.