is america a pseudo democracy .?
468101
If there is one thing that the United States is not, is a democracy.  It is a Constitutional Republic.  Every natural born citizen has the opportunity to work their way through the political system and become President.  Unlike many countries, it matters little where the individual came from and more what the people think of the individual.
796523
No, its not.  I think you give the American people too much credit.  There is not actually a very large difference between the people and the government.  Don't forget, this war began with a 70% public approval rating.  The vast majority of Americans favored starting the war.  Bush had a very high approval rating until recently, and disapproval of the war is only growing now that people realize it was a mistake.  Unfortunately its the public opinion before the war which matters more.  I am American and I find that many Americans do approve of American foreign policy.  It might be because I live in the south, but many people are further to the right than Bush is.  There are many people that would make Bush look like a moderate dove.  In a country that prides itself on democracy, you can only separate the people and the government so much.  The government is responsible to the people, and when the government does bad things, it is either through the will or the apathy of the people.  In either case, the public of a democracy share the moral responsiblity.
1390
Judging by the last two elections it is evident that the voice of the people no longer exists.\n\nWhat you are currently witnessing is the sad truth of how corrupt individuals have overthrown a good working government and turned it into a dictatorship through manipulation.\n\nAlso another BIG misunderstanding is most people believe that the United States is a Democracy when in fact it is not!  It is a Republic!  A true Democracy (direct Democracy) would allow individuals to directly vote on legislation and do away with Senators and Congresspeople. To learn more, read, "A Republic, If You Can Keep It" - a statement by Congressman Ron Paul. (It is the second link below).\n\nOr better yet click on the first link below to learn more about what is true and what isn't.  It is one heck of an eye opener!\n\n:)\nPeace
1087176
I don't think Americans Have a complete democracy like any other Asian Countries do have.  There had been many conversory always happening in Presidental Election. If you had heard the speech last time election propoganda you can see it. Other wise, majority of people in America do like war and killing the people. But I don't think so, although they had criminal cutlure in back ground.\n   \n  I have seen some answers here, don't consider american in one category.  Unfortunately many americans have this problems. Americans have superiority in their thinking pattern.\nAnd other answers here it's like very pathetic.  No one has answered correctly to your question.\n\n  If Americans don't change their attitude to other nations, they have to suffer, see the Latin American countries Have been changed. I don't think If any Indian can support to America today. Moreover, day by day Indians comment against americans.
941037
We do live in a republic.  A democracy (means rule by the people in latin) is when the people vote on each and every issue that comes up.  A 'rep'ublic (based on the same word as 'rep'resentative in latin) is when we elect representatives (president, representative, senator, governor, legislator, and so on) to represent us on each of these issues.\n\nNow I do agree with your argument about bringing it to the US.  In the 2004 election only 28% of population voted, as compared to the 70% in Israel, the 78% in Iraq when they first voted.  In fact, with the exception of Britain and France, nearly every democratic country in the world is above 60%.  But the United States, England, and France all show in the low 20's.  Not exactly people ruling, nor even representatives of the population ruling.
390478
The ancient Greeks, who invented democracy, had a philosopher who said." every government tends to fail by excess of its own basic principle". I cannot recall his name.\n\nThe USA was an experiment in government modeled partly on ancient Greece as revealed to europeans again during the renaissance when monks found old greek teachings and lore in Muslim libraries during the crusades that were translated and taken to Europe. This ended the dark ages in Europe.\nAlso the USA copied some native American government models.\nThe basic principle of USA is democracy rather than Monarchy, so it is this very aspect of our own government that threatens to topple it. Certainly it is made worse by ignorant masses that vote, but it is the power to vote that makes this ignorance dangerous. Not the ignorance per se.\nIf USA were an enlightened dictatorship, then this would not be a problem as the wise and kind ruler would protect the idiots from themselves.\nBut we let anyone vote. They need not own property, or be educated,or even be literate. They can still vote at age 18. This has made the gathering of the votes of morons a big business. This democratic system will be the undoing of USA as the morons are led to the slaughter by the evil geniuses that manipulate them and eventually will enslave them. Part of the con is to make working for the man a moral obligation (ha ha) Then paying taxes to a corrupt government becomes a growing legal obligation. Then obeying religious leaders and tithing. The rest is like taking candy away from a baby. The only reason the trap is not yet sprung is because evil factions are still fighting over the slaves. Once they end their war or have a truce, USA and all its freedoms is doomed.\nOH YEAH, they also do not want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg so it is better to let the fools think they are free as long as possible. We dont want no revolution! First thing to do is to distract them with drugs, TV and false issues to divide them. Then ruin the schools so nobody will ever get smart enough to see what is happening. It is really easy and almost done. so long suckers!
194914
From the title, it sounds like the topic assumes the conclusion that the presidential election is an example of true democracy -- unless you put a question mark at the end of the title, in which case the paper would be answering the question of whether the presidential election is an example of true democracy.\n\nIn any event, you might want to try defining some terms as part of your approach.  What is a "democracy"?  Then, what do you mean to add by saying "true" democracy?  (Are you focusing more on technicalities or on spirit?)  We know that American presidential elections involve the weird electoral college procedure, and that it's possible (though very rare) for the winner to win even though another candidate received slightly more votes from regular voters.  Maybe that's a pretty minor thing, though.\n\nAlso, in America, lots of people don't bother voting.  Does that diminish democracy?  They are not prevented from voting, they just choose not to.  So no one ever actually gets elected by a majority of the people, but rather only by a majority of people who decided to vote.  That's people's choice, of course, but does it change the idea of "democracy" at all?
94471
I do not agree with the last answer before mine. The United Sates of America does not have a Democracy. We have a Repubic, where we elect people to represent us. In a true Democracy, all citizens vote on every issue. It is as simple as that. The people truly have power, and do make the decisions. However, because of the population of the world now, getting every citizen in a country to vote on every issue would be a chaotic mess. Also, this would it much easier for people to change ballots (something Jeb Bush obviously did to get his brother George elected for President in 2000).
1149859
I think the question is does democracy still equate to liberty? Even under the guise of democracy, people's freedoms are being eroded.  These boards alone are testament to our love of the inane and the pointless. People are more interested in the plight of Britney's baby than in their own right to dissent, or in the veracity of their government. We are being systematically dumbed down, and the media is owned by the same people that have a direct interest in government. \n\nTo answer the question, I would say that while democracy exists, the tools that make it work (truth, integrity and accountability) have been removed.
310245
We still vote in the USA we are not a dictatorship. We also have a president that is willing (no matter what kind of crap is thrown his way) to stand up for our democracy and others. Think about not being able to leave the country, have any control over who you work for, or be able to vote.
342760
I don't know what your talking about! The problem here in America, is that America is under a one sided party rule, and a Dictatorship with George Bush. There isn't anyone to oppose them right now; because the Democrats can't pass any legislation without it being pushed down. It's all a waist of time until America wakes up and brings back a Democracy to the American people. These people that are in charge of our Government are warmongers and terrorists like Adolf Hitler was. They are even following quite a few of Hitlers ideologies with rule of the Country.
758330
Really America is a Republic, so Democracy is just a myth..Right now with Bush it's a Dictatorship, and Democracy is once again a myth. Democracy means "For the people, By the people" (Abraham Lincoln), not for the corporations, and the rich people that want to rule.
67338
It's not.  It's a republic.  In a democracy, all the people would have to vote to pass every law.  In a republic, we elect representatives to do that for us.
911679
i aggree with Phil when he says "Democracy is a very over-used and incorrectly used term\n\nWhat happens in many Western countries and the USA is called an OLIGARCHY and a PLUTOCRACY.\n\nThese are not true democracies - until 'we' can have a real democracy, we cannot export anything but a lie. "\n\nultimatly, help is for those that want it, not those that need it.....
389120
Fixed, cemented, and sealed all in one foul swoop!!! We have not had a democracy for a very long time...if ever, and the people with money have the power. I disagree with the person that said we live in a communist state...We are living in a feudalistic state!!!
865490
No ... How can someone force democracy on someone else? If it's forced, then is it really a democracy? If there is ever to be democracy or peace over there, then they will have to resolve it themselves.
990091
good question.  i've been in countries where there's a soldier on the corner with a machine gun.  yet when i have a cup of coffee with one of the locals they admit they perceive the US as a police state.  it's a quandary.  there is a lot of crime here.  the terrible thing is the more rules and laws, and the more police, the more crime.\n\nin a democracy the level of freedom is determined by voters.