I don't think I have a closed mind. But, I'm not going to ditch well established definitions for the sake of idology. I am not confusing republic with democracy. The two have specific meanings, and I am applying both words to describe the aspect of our government.
We are a representative democracy because we have elections to choose our leaders. We are a republic because we don't have a king, etcetera. We are a constitutional republic because we have a constitution that prescribes our government and it's limitations.
I've just used three terms that describes our form of government, all of which are accurate and approprite for their definitions.
No. That's the part that makes it a republic. Because powers are not derived from a sovereign entity, like a king, dictator, small group of powerful people, etcetera. It's derived from the people, which I have said many many times in this discussion. The part that makes us a representative democracy is the part where we have elections for the people who will hold offices for a limited period. The definitions I have applied fit that statement perfectly.
If you are using words outside of their definition, yes, it makes me right and you wrong. I don't need to be right. I'd be fine with it if you can show me some historical information that the definitions I've used are wrong.
The angle you've studied it out with seems to be from excerpts of founders' statements, that supports your belief about what a republic is, and what a democracy is. But as I've shown you above, the definitions I've used fit that statement just fine. A republic has nothing to do with democracy or checks and balances in government, or whatever else. Except governments that have those features would tend to be republics. And republics tend to be democratic at least a little.
Democracy isn't a bad word. It doesn't mean only direct democracy. Republic isn't mutually exclusive of democracy. I've given plenty of examples in history of republics that were also democracies. Even some that were direct democracies were also republics.
If I thought you were right, I wouldn't keep repeating the same definitions. I'd just accept yours.
