Does the current govenment represent americans?
140592
Nope.................... It represents itself, and makes us conform to it's machine-like rule.
715757
In the democratic form of goverment that the U.S. currently has, that is correct.\n\nDemocracy in the U.S. does not mean "rule by the majority."  In a democracy there are certain fundamental human rights that are protected.  Among these rights is the right to freely practice an individual's chosen religion, any religion, without government interference AND without establishing an official state religion over any other religion.
797017
yes. all elected officials have a duty to uphold the constitution over anti-democratic laws. the Patriot Acts are profoundly un-American in part. Hopefully, the manipulation of fear to pass such crude restricitions passed with the election.
1080139
Being that the US is the premiere world power, it is incumbent that the US is the police state, so to speak, for the rest of the world.  Changing presidents will not change that.
329523
Absolutely not. If America was a fascist state, do you think you'd have the freedom to even ask such questions? While it is true that the president and many leaders are extremely right-wing, they are NOT dictators. The US doesn't even actually have a 'ruler.' The president does not have sole power. America is a country of supposed checks and balances. Whether or not you agree with the current path that our country is on, we still have many more freedoms and opportunities than any other country. You still have the right to speak your mind and vote.
590890
Pretty close to a monarchy actually !!!The executive branch has pretty much been allowed todo whatever they please ...\nlegally or not w/o question !!  If you do question you are labeled unpatriotic or liberal !!! Well I have alot of questions ... I am tired of being looked down upon by those that were "lucky" enough to get in office. I AM A MODERATE \nREPUBLICAN and as far as I can see the present day republican party is closer to a neo-nazi party in my veiw than to the beliefs of myself and many of my peers.
707217
Is America ? I think so
115480
We may be headed there. Or that is what it looks like anyway. I previously asked a similar question based on something I was reading about characteristics of a facist government.\n\nI am not saying the current administration meets all the criteria but quite a few of them resemble much of what goes on today in the U.S.\n\n\n1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism\n2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.\n3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.\n4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.\n5. Rampant sexism.\n6. A controlled mass media\n7. Obsession with national security\n8. Religion and ruling elite tied together\n9. Power of corporations protected.\n10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated\n11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts\n12. Obsession with crime and punishment\n13. Rampant cronyism and corruption\n14. Fraudulent elections.\n\n\nhttp://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=britt_23_2&back=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.secularhumanism.org%2Flib%2Flist.php%3Fpublication%3Dfi%26vol%3D23
90656
By "us gov" I assume you mean the current administration.  Or do you mean to include congress?  In either case, the answer is generally, no.  I'm terribly disappointed.  Or rather, not really disappointed, because I did not expect much from GWB.  But the structure of our government is still pretty good, and our Constitution is just fine, thank you.  Don't you wish the current crop of idiots paid attention to it once in awhile?\n\nThe problem I see in this country is that the vast majority of voters figure their choices are limited to the two largest parties.  Problem is, they have been trading off power trips and making back-room deals between them for so long, that does not give us much in the way of a choice.\n\nBut we have a strong and promising third party coming up fast: the Libertarian Party.  We libertarians believe that a government should be small enough to fit inside the Constitution.  We would disassemble the beaurocracy, stop butting into other countries' business, and trust the individual adult citizen to make his or her own choices about private matters.  We believe market forces would solve many of the problems that protectionism and favoritism only make worse.  And we believe that taxes should be eliminated if possible, or at least reduced to no more than it would take to run those operations that cannot be accomplished any other way.  \n\nIf the state can do it, then the feds should let them.  If the county can do it, the state should let them.  If the individual can do it, then let him alone.  If the individual cannot do it, let voluntary organizations and other structures at the local level help.  Because the larger the unit set with the task of solving a given problem, the less efficient it will inevitably be.  Perhaps the coordination necessary for defense operations would require a federal structure, but I personally cannot think of anything else that needs to be done on such a scale.  Can you?
1009835
Answer to subquestion 1. Yes\nAnswer to subquestion 2. No.  The executive branch cannot assume powers that are not vested in it except by Congressional authority and cannot assume powers that Congress does not have within the Constitution.  Anything that the president does is subject to review by the Judicial Branch and can be found to be unconstitutional.  Presidents can only use powers granted by Congress.\n\nMy answer to your overall question:  Vote out the current career politicians and replace them with regular Americans like you and me.  That's what the Constitution was set up for.  Representation by the people in the House, and representation of the states in the Senate.  There should be no federal government except to the extent necessary to provide for basic needs of the people and protection from our enemies.  States should actually be in control of the direction of the "ship" and held in check by the appointed representatives of the people.  Don't vote for a Democrat or a Republican.  Vote for a candidate that represents what you believe is in the best interest of the country, not the best interest of a social group, an economic group, or any other wannabe majority.  Hell, vote for me!  I'm a Libertarian.
225826
This executive branch is focused on governing the world. I don't think they are in touch with the people in this country at all. It is the shame of america that we give them a second term.
921765
The Monarchy serves as head of State in Great Britain (which includes England, Scotland and Wales), and Northern Ireland as well as several Commonwealth Countries, including Canada, Australia and several others.  Technically, the monarch is also the head of government as well (by constitution) but by tradition, it has evolved that the Prime Minister is head of government and the monarch is head of state.  The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, and she performs some of the same functions as the President of the United States as head of state (as opposed to head of government) which would include many ceremonial functions, as well as proclaiming bills into law.  It offers a different form of "checks and balances" that isn't available under the US system.  For instance, should a US President should fall as head of government, the head of state is also gone and government comes to a halt. In Britain, should the government fall, the monarch can come forward and ask another party to form government or call a general election.  If it is the former, then government can continue as before.  In countries like Canada (where I am), the monarch is represented  by the Governor General at the Federal Level, and the Lieutenant Governor at the Provincial Level (as opposed to a Lt Gov in the states, which is the state equivalent to a VP).  The person holding those offices perform the monarch's duties in its stead at the appropriate level of government.
131973
The U.S. is a "Federal Legislative Democracy" that resides in Washington D.C.\nThe American people "non elected officials" represent the republic \nThe U.S. is a created entity of Commercial Contracts, U.C.C, U.S. Code of Commercial Law......\nregular people cannot run for the office because they would have to file a waiver and claim to be a U.S. citizen which is also a created entity of the 14 amendment
128901
We do absolutely. "We the people" have chosen our President, our Congress and our local officials by elections held to legal standards. We have a peaceful succession of elected leaders. We have the power to choose who makes our laws and for how long. The answer to this question will depend on which side of the aisle you sit on.\n\nObviously, Republicans and conservatives will tend to say we have a government by, of and for the people. They will argue that Americans were fed up with the Democrats and the Bill Clinton political machine and made a choice to remove it from government and emplace a more conservative government. They will point to the fact that elections work.\n\nMany Democrats and liberals, however, will argue that we do not. They will argue that George Bush stole the election of 2000 and has brainwashed the American people into re-electing him. They cannot believe that there are enough conservatives in the country to vote anyone into national office, let alone enough to have control of it.\n\nI am a conservative Republican, and I believe the government is of, for and by the people. I did so even when the Clintons were at their liberal and moral worst. Clinton was my President, too. Just because I disagreed with him (more in the foreign policy arena than domestic) did not mean I became bitter and began calling him names and de-humanizing him.\n\nIn the past, Americans debated the ideas and chose their President. Didn't matter if your side won or not. You respected the man, backed him up no questions asked in periods of war and crisis, praised or criticized his policies, and did not make personal attacks. A man was judged on the merits of his service.\n\nNow, a man is judged on one or two issues. Bush has reached across the aisle and helped promote many Democrat and liberal ideas. His policies are constantly being criticized by Republicans and conservatives as too liberal. But liberals don't recognize this because they are still so caught up in losing the 2000 election. NOTHING Bush does will ever be right for them.\n\nAmericans need to get back to the basics. Hard work yields results. Look out for yourself and your neighbor. Stop asking, "What's in it for me?" and start controlling your own destiny. Live and let live.\n\nYou win some, you lose some.
1008762
It's a republic in that we elect officials to represent us.  We don't elect the president, we have an electoral college to do that.  We don't vote directly on issues (some states do, but not at a Federal level).  We vote for people that we believe will represent our views and our concerns.
163952
It is a Republic that practices democracy. Democracy is the idea that leaders are chosen by the people through election, by majority rule. We are a democratic Republic.\n\nNobody claims that the US is a "democracy" (I don't think any government is really called that word). Even in part of the Pledge of Allegience.. "And to the Republic, for which it stands.."
1185102
No.  It is an outdated and flawed system that is representative of qualities similar to that of the British empire in which our forefathers fought so desperately to get away from.  We are becoming the United Empire of America....it is a very scary time in our history.  I think politics have outgrown the fair representation of Americans.