Was America meant to be a democracy?
917161
no, if it became a democracy it would be the end of us all, the founding fathers knew this when they formed the government.
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.
570830
A limited democracy is one where you may only vote for those things which are acceptable within the framework of a constitution. The USA was intended to run along those lines but their constitution is largely in tatters and their democracy (like ours) has largely become an unlimited democracy. Without limitations regarding what may be voted for the door is open to having majority rule in the truest sense. Anything the majority wants goes, even if that includes racism and war. Naturally, I support a democracy limited by the principle of individual liberty and criticize unlimited democracies. \n( http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/street/pl38/demo.htm )
902346
The earliest recorded history of direct democrcay would be the one practiced by the Greeks. They would all asemble at the market place and would discuss and would vote on matters of state but as the population grow, it became evident that there would not only be logical concerns but peace and order as well. And so representative democracy was born.\n\nImagine in the US if every bill that will be passed, the entire US population would go to debate how the bill will be phrased, worded, revised and voted. Even the country you mentioned is no longer near the pure democracy espoused by the Greeks because someone crafts the bill before tossing it to the population for the vote.\n\nIn the end, a look at US Constitution would tell us that there is still traces of direct democracy in the U.S. During the last midterm election, we have seen states voting for different referendums and ammendments. Californias exercised direct democracy by calling for a re-call. And amendments were added to the US Consitution through direct democracy.
953442
The dems won a majority, not unanimously.\n\nNote to "Oh Yea":\nThis is not a democracy.  It is a representative republic (and only, according to Ben Franklin, "if you can keep it"). The ruling of the majority vote in a true democracy is equivalent to two wolves and one sheep taking a popular vote as to what is for dinner.  We are a nation of constitutional law which must be maintained no matter what the popular opinion is.
380165
The U.S. is not a Democracy,It is a Representative Republic.\nIt does not matter what 100% vote for,What matters is what our elected law makers vote for.\nThis generation does not even know what kind of government they have.
586852
American is not, and was never intended to be, a democracy. In a democracy, it is pure majority rule.\n\nIn a republic, like the US, people get together and elect someone else to vote on their behalf and to make decisions for everyone elese. It's majority rule by proxy.\n\nAn Oligopoly is an economic model where a few people control the means of production and distribution. An Oligarchy is a political system where a few people control the power.\n\nThe US is not an Oligarchy, since the power is held by political parties, not individuals. It may be an oligopoly, depending upon how you view corporate ownership.\n\nIs it fair? No. Personally, I think political parties are one one of the worst mistakes made by this country since its founding. I think every elected official should have to state their personal views, not as members of political parties. Voters would then have to choose elected officials on their own individual merits. \n\nI also think that elected officials should have to sign a contract during campaigning, specifying exactly what they will and will not do once in office. Violate the terms of the contract, and you lose your office automatically. That'll keep campaign promises from being ignored.
126226
True the US fore-fathers revolted against a colonial power and gave US its discernible freedom and democracy much in line with what was happening in France.\n\nHowever, in this day and age, democracy allows us to vote out those we don't want or vote in those we want. however the power of the citizenry is not limited there, they can lobby their senators and can band together via lobbies to influence thinking in white house.\n\nSo to answer your question, it is important that the structures built over the years to develop the checks and balances of governance are not eroded - like the free media etc...so strengthen these..and ou will see a stronger US...
1130802
there is this "idea" that democracy is good and other types of government are bad and/or evil.  no one system of government is inherently good or evil, but that just not how it is viewed.  i'm a little more curious as to why america thinks it can "teach" democracy with bombs and force....but then historically what we see more of is the idea that america teaches a system of rule that supports the US is more what it means, be it a democracy or dictator.
196160
Yes, it is.  (It's also a republic, capitalist, etc.)  It's not a "direct" democracy in the sense of submitting everything to a direct vote of the people, but the people do have ultimate power.  As a practical matter, the people frequently don't exercise the power they have -- they often don't bother voting, or don't educate themselves on issues -- but the power is there if they choose.
1149550
America doesnot care about publishing democracy in the world and it names  democracy its poison to us..we allready have democracy in our countries which is suitable for our great realign ISLAM .anyone of you thinks that we  do not have democracy and we are not civilized like you ,we see you as immoral people too.we have faith in god.you know nothing about us,go find books talk about Islam and read it then judge who needs the democracy.solve your problems first and our problems its not yours.stupide
407479
The founding fathers never wanted a pure democracy, and we still don't have one, though it's true there is significantly more democracy than there once was, particularly because we now directly elect senators instead of having them be elected by state legislatures. Nontheless, the founding fathers clearly wanted a democratic form of government, one in which the people's choices play a part, or why else would they include procedures for voting at all?\n\nAlso, the founding fathers' desires are not what does or even should guide us as a country. They wanted slavery to continue and women to not be allowed to vote, but clearly we've moved beyond those things. The constitution is not set in stone, but can be modified as society changes over time.
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.
766379
This is not a democracy.   It is a democratic-republic.\n\nThe individual's will is subordinate.  The individual gets one vote.\n\nIt is the right of individuals to assemble.  And organize.  And support legislation.\n\nFreedom of speech is the right of every American, even people with whom you disagree.
653218
If you're asking if America is a democratic nation, then the answer is yes.\n\nThe United States of America is actually a democratic republic.  It is a democracy, in the fact that there is direct election of representatives.  However, these representatives are the ones that actually make the decisions, the ones that make the laws (hence the Republic).  \n\nA republic is a form of government that has a special "class" or elect that make the governmental decisions (laws, etc) that govern the nation.  In our case, the elect are the representatives and senators at the federal level, as well as your local representatives (state, local) that make the decisions.  \n\nBecause these members are elected, then we have a democracy as well.  However, a true democracy would require the votes of everyone on every issue (direct democracy).  It would be a little bit tough with a population of 300 million.
344585
I believe this will not happen in my life time. People in the USA believe we already live in a democracy, but we don't. We live in a land of freedoms, but not democracy. If we did, we would have many more choices to vote for in elections instead of being offered only what the two parties offer for the most part. If we were a democracy the people would have more say regarding taxes, how our money is spent and have a press that is factual and not what the prevailing government wants whether it is democratics or republicans. A true democractic society is run by the people for the people. I am 63 and we haven't had that yet since i have been around.
927200
The first answer from lareddawg is as correct as the second answer is absolutely WRONG! The philosophy of the American left is socialists and anti theme to the concept of America as a republic.\nNote Art 4, Sec. 4, founded as a Republic...The founders detested the concept of democracy as a government form that has historically always failed.