[DoctorIrokezov]

I'm curious as to how everyone on this board would define it.

Not by the choices given.

Democracy is mob rule. When the mob is enlightened, democracy can be benign. When the mob is petty and driven by human frailty, it is harmful and hurtful.

The United States of America is not a democracy--although there are some who would like us to think it is. It is a republic, but it is also a representative republic. These differences are more than a matter of labels. The philosophical differences are huge.

A republic prevents the mob from taking over by force of pure majority. A republic is ruled by law, and not the mob. Unfortunately, it makes us victim to lawyers, but whatchagonnado?

�gDemocracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.�h Benjamin Franklin