[OT] Are we a democracy or a republic?

[Jeremy Hansen]

On 9/1/05, Andy Bradford <amb-plug at bradfords.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> The government of the United States of America was established as a
> Republic. A republic is based upon the rule by laws. A democracy is
> based upon mob rule (aka majority rule).
> 
> 
I know we already had this discussion, Andy, but it may as well be repeated 
in a public forum. You can still disagree with me. It will jsut make our 
next lunch debate more interesting ;)

Mob rule and majority rule are not the same thing. Majority rule is one 
definition of democracy (notice I said "one"). Mob rule is anarchy. The 
differences may seem subtle, but in practice are significant. Majority rule 
implies that the minority agree to comply with the decisions of the 
majority. There is an inherent order to it. Mob rule is simply the lack of 
order. It implies survival of the fittest, kill or be killed. Mobs know that 
there is strength in numbers, and in an anarchy, whichever mob is the 
strongest wins.

As for whether the USA is a republic or a democracy, who says we can't have 
our cake and eat it too? We are a democratic republic.

Jeremy