I wish I read that as clearly in Dustin Arand's article, Charles. I do not. I don't disagree with him at all -- but he is not taking the story to where the truth lies; he takes the story to discuss the futility of the remark. He does not place it where he should have placed it.

Let me first make something real clear: I see him abusing concepts as if these concepts are applicable to the United States while they are not applicable.

I hope my writing was clear enough that the United States does not have a representative government.

If we follow the definition of democracy or of republic, then the United States fall shy of being a democracy or a republic. It does not matter if we all say it fifteen times a day: the US fall shy of the definitions -- big time.

Partaking in an election and then going home empty-handed by the millions upon millions voters is not a democracy in my dictionary. And that is why the pun is so important.

In a real democracy/republic, no one says, "oh, we are not a democracy but a republic". It is exactly in societies that have a divide-and-conquer system in place that shallow remarks like this end up being played out because the win in divide-and-conquer systems can already be had when the opponent is given a reply for which that opponent does not have an immediate come back.

I am originally from a port city, and the culture is such that when you don't give an answer back, you lost the conversation. If you gave an answer in return, and it did not even make all that much difference if it was really to the point or not, then your friends would be proud of you and come to your rescue.

The US is such a 'democracy', always on the look-out for undermining the other even when they are correct. They don't look for the truth; we are looking for the win (or at least for avoiding the loss).

In nations with four, five or six parties, this never happens because the truth always comes out. There is no hiding behind the win of the moment. It is never about winning and the other then losing. In a democracy, the representatives represent all the voters.

We do not have that. Our representatives are representative of the majority of the voters only. We are not a democracy; we are not a republic. But we do say often that we are.

Many people believe we are a democracy, a republic, and so another 'tiny battle for words' circumventing the actually big truth was won by those that do not want to share power with everyone.

Thank you for your reply, Charles. I hope you see I come from a strong position (and I like the truth better than winning or losing, so if you can undermine my position, I will let you win -- if you bring the truth).