“REPUBLIC VS. DEMOCRACY”
IS A PEDANTIC DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE THAT REPUBLICANS (USUALLY) LIKE TO TROT OUT IN DEBATES IN AN EFFORT TO SOUND SMARTER THAN YOU; REPUBLIC VS. DEMOCRACY = WHO CARES? THE UNITED STATES SYSTEM BLENDS ELEMENTS OF BOTH A REPUBLIC AND A DEMOCRACY. THE DISTINCTION, TO THE EXTENT IT EXISTS, IS NOT REALLY GERMANE TO ANY PARTICULAR REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC AGENDA. NO ONE IS SERIOUSLY PROPOSING MOVING TO DIRECT DEMOCRACY, FOR EXAMPLE. IN A ROUTINE POLITICAL DEBATE, IT IS THEREFORE PERFECTLY FINE TO REFER TO OUR SYSTEM AS A DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY IN A COLLOQUIAL SENSE.