That 'ol, "We live in a republic" catch all "stfu" freeper response

[freeplessinseattle]

to anything they don't know how to answer, so basically say "you live in a republic so have no right to say anything as a dem" or something, I'm not sure why that would work except to confuse both of us for a bit. I'm thinking "What has s/he been smoking?" s/he thinks "Crap, what now? um, freedom's not free, 9-11, Rush said..".
I try to explain to them that, for one thing, a republic is a form of democracy, and that republic doesn't necessarily equal republican political ideals, same with democracy. In fact the two political terms have switched definitions in many ways over time. This all just makes their head explode and they claim I'm just one of those college edumucated liberal elites trying to talk all high-falutin' but not making any sense. *sigh*. Can anyone help me phrase my responses in a way they can understand (3 or less syllables per word preferred, crayon drawings welcome).

[kahleefornia]

1. I would say

if we live in a republic, why are we "spreading democracy" to the Middle East?

Never heard * say we're spreading Republicry to the Iraqis.

[kiki]

3. Lol, "Republicry"...

Ask them if they think the Green Party wants to paint everything green.

Then tell them they're fucking cretins.

[BattyDem]

17. That's something to think about ...

The Green Party wants to paint everything green.
Communists want to live on a commune and receive Communion.
Socialists want to socialize (they throw the BEST fundraisers!)
Etc ... etc ...
:P

[BattyDem]

11. ROFL!

That's a great comeback! :rofl:

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[freeplessinseattle]

13. ooh, good one! I can't believe I didn't think of that! n/t

[clement]

2. America is NOT a democracy......

.....It is a Republic. Yet this non democracy is spreading democracy at the force of a gun.

Not sure how these people solve this slight conundrum but I'm sure they don't even notice it.

America is a democracy.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. 'The founding fathers gave us a republic, not a democracy'

There's some truth in that. Some of them, such as Hamilton, didn't trust the people and were very suspicious that democracy would lead to mob rule.

My own response to anybody who expresses the sentiment such as that in the title of this post is "Yes, but we shall remedy that."

[Mr_Spock]

5. A knuckle sandwitch will usually satisfy their hunger.

Believe me - I am this close to feeding some Republicans three squares :D.

[Justitia]

6. So is Cuba. So is China. We are all republics.

"republic" simply means that we are NOT an inherited monarchy - that's it.

Republic of Cuba
Peoples Republic of China

There are others that are also "republics" - any country without a king is a republic.

Their line is just a way to try to squirm away from the word "democracy", which, of course, they cannot abide.

[BattyDem]

10. Exactly!

From Dictionary.com

re·pub·lic
n.
1. a. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
b. A nation that has such a political order.

2. a. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
b. A nation that has such a political order.




What the idiots don't seem to get is that "republican" (with a lower-case "r") and Republican" (with an upper-case "r") are two different things ... just like "democratic" and "Democratic" are two different things. :eyes:

[wtmusic]

12. Or the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan" nt

[buddysmellgood]

7. Our republic is a form of democracy.

[freeplessinseattle]

14. yes, I noted that in my post, I need to expand on that.............

[tocqueville]

15. Monarchies can be democracies

Exemples :

the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Canada

Republics can be democracies :

France, Germany, India, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Austria

Republics can be authoritarian :

Iran, Pakistan, China, Syria

Monarchies can be authoritarian :

Jordan, Morocco, Saudi-Arabia

so what is the freepers don't understand ?

The fact that the US is a republic doesn't mean that it is AUTOMATICALLY a democracy :

for that you need :


A constitution that limits the authority of the government and protects many civil rights
Universal suffrage, granting all citizens the right to vote regardless of race, gender or property ownership (See also elective rights)
Freedom of expression, including speech, assembly and protest
Freedom of the press and access to alternative information sources
Freedom of association
Equality before the law and due process under the rule of law
The right to private property and privacy
Educated citizens informed of their rights and civic responsibilities
A broadly and deeply entrenched civil society
An independent judiciary
A system of checks and balances between branches of government


is that fulfilled ?

OK then the US are a democracy

[freeplessinseattle]

22. Nice. This will make their heads explode. n/t

[Mountainman]

8. What the hell difference does it make what you call it? America is a

Banana!

It doesn't change the situation one damn bit.

The idea came about, I was told, that someone asked Washington or someone else what kind of government have they created and the responce was, "a republic if you can keep it."

Republic, Democracy, Banana what's the difference. Bush is still a fucking dumn ass and the repukes elected him.

[LoZoccolo]

9. Why even waste your time?

If someone is using a lame manipulative tactic like that, they're basically telling you that they won't be reached. Move on.

[VTMechEngr]

16. America Is a Democracy, and a Republic.

Republic is any country not ruled by a monarch. North korea, Soviet Union, Iraq under Saddam were Republics. But we are a type of Republic known as a Democratic Republic and Use a system known as Representitive Democracy.

Ask them why they hate America and want to side against our Representitve system.

[freeplessinseattle]

20. lol! Love it, "why do you hate America?" perfect! n/t

[tocqueville]

18. I would answer that I live in a FREE country so I have

the right to say whatever I want

If they don't like it they can move to a REPUBLIC that shares the same views than them about freedom :

Iran
Myanmar
Cuba
North Korea
Syria
China (People's Republic)
Belarus

they only need a one-way ticket

Don't try to explain democracy, it's beyond their understanding

[bumblebee1]

19. The Former Soviet Union was also a republic.

USSR stood for Union of Soviet Socialist Republic.

[freeplessinseattle]

21. ah, but Amerkuns improved on that, don't ya see;)

good point though. Funny, one person I know likes to refer to Seattle as "The People's Republic of Seattle" yet also pulls the "we live in a republic" bs.

Confusion reigns.