Cursor_ says:

Merriam-Webster says a democracy is:
1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

Now look at republic:

1 a (1) : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government b (1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law.

Now it look very very similar. But notice that a democracy is rule by the people. Whereas a republic is rule by a citizens ENTITLED to vote.

Notice that one word entitled.

Only people whom, by law or some guiding principle, are allowed to vote. Not just the people. A specially entitled people.

That is what the US is. It is a government of entitled people. Those people are the wealthy. Hence oligarchy.

Now look at oligarchy:

1 : government by the few
2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also : a group exercising such control.

THAT is the United States as well as most of the world.

We were NEVER a democracy. As in the initial drafting and distribution of permission to vote it was not given to women, non-Caucasians and the poor. Neither to those under 21.

Only an entitled group is allow to have a voice. And IF you are not that group you have no voice. To hold office now you MUST be rich. There is NO entitlement for the shopkeeper, the laundry worker, the fast food burger flipper nor even for the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker!

That is rule by the few. That is an oligarchy.
The people in the end do not choose their representation. They merely perform a ceremonial act to accept the plutocrats that are placed by political parties funded by the wealthy.

Cursor_

LibertyLover says:

#62, Now it look very very similar. But notice that a democracy is rule by the people. Whereas a republic is rule by a citizens ENTITLED to vote.

Interesting take.

Not everyone in America is allowed a vote. Felons come to mind.

Mr. Fusion says:

#62, cursor,

I know you have a hard time with simple English, so here, try this out.

de·moc·ra·cy
http://thefreedictionary.com/democracy

n. pl. de·moc·ra·cies
1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
2. A political or social unit that has such a government.
3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
4. Majority rule.
5.The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

American Heritage Dictionary

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democracy
Noun
pl -cies
1. a system of government or organization in which the citizens or members choose leaders or make other important decisions by voting
2.a country in which the citizens choose their government by voting

Collins Dictionary of Essential English

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democracy
a form of government in which sovereign power resides in the people and is exercised by them or by officers they elect to represent them.

-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc.

Thesaurus
Noun
1.democracy – the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

2.democracy – a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

3.democracy – the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group

***

re·pub·lic
http://thefreedictionary.com/republic
n.
1.
a. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
b. A nation that has such a political order.
2.
a. 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.
b. A nation that has such a political order.
3. often Republic A specific republican government of a nation: the Fourth Republic of France.
4. An autonomous or partially autonomous political and territorial unit belonging to a sovereign federation.
5.A group of people working as equals in the same sphere or field: the republic of letters.

American Heritage Dictionary

republic
Noun
1. a form of government in which the people or their elected representatives possess the supreme power
2. a country in which the head of state is an elected or nominated president

Collins Essential English Dictionary

Thesaurus
Noun
1.republic – a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

2.republic – a form of government whose head of state is not a monarch; “the head of state in a republic is usually a president”

Based on WordNet 3.0,

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If you look very hard, you will notice a Republic is a government without a monarch ruler. A Democracy is the method of choosing the government.

The United States is a Democratic Republic as we elect our representatives and executive. The United Kingdom is a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy as the Head of the government is a monarch but the government itself is democratically elected.

Mr. Fusion says:

#66, Loser,

No, that is not a hypocrisy, it is called a conflict of interest.

If my wife was dying yes, I would do everything in my power to save her. Which is why people in that position do not get to make the decisions.

A Hospital will not allow a surgeon to operate on a family member. Some won’t allow even nurses to care for family. The legal system will not allow a Judge, prosecutor, or juror become involved in a case concerning a family friend, business associate, or relative. Very few companies allow the hiring of relatives by a supervisor. Governments use bidding to remove the taint of favoritism and nepotism.

That does not mean that conflicts of interest never happen. It means we all recognize the dangers for abuse, which is exactly what your question asks; “would you abuse the system to save your wife”?

Bindegal says:

Seen with my European eyes this video is far from reality, half true, smug, right-wing
bigot, nationalist, American propaganda.

Mr. Fusion says:

#71, Loser,

You are such an asshole. You keep trying to nit pick over something said to twist it to your meaning.

It doesn’t matter how much money I spend on my wife, if there is no hope there is no hope. Maybe I could find some Mexican clinic that will try the latest apricot pit treatment or some old witch doctor that will sell potions guaranteed to make her well.

People forced to make decisions under duress or stress seldom make the same rational decision a disinterested person will make. In most courts an emotional decision may be a defense or at least a mitigating factor to a crime.

Mr. Fusion says:

#73, Loser,

Still playing your games. Who said I would?

L says:

Excellent video

Simple, direct and factual