Democracy or Republic?

Do you know the difference between a democracy and a republic?

In this THINQ podcast episode, Dave Zanotti, CEO of The American Policy Roundtable, interviews political scientist and philosopher William B. Allen about this important nuance of our country's governance.

Click the link in bio to listen in as they help us specifically understand how the government is upheld by the authority of the people.

[Tangodawg]

The biggest problem we are having is that those delegated to represent our interests are only representing their own interests and pursuit of power.

[nmbrson]

The problem with that is special interest and corporations have purchased our representatives, and they no longer represent the common man.

[waynesmith]

Bottom line is representative democracy is dependent on the people electing good and honest people to office

[pedronavarro]

When there is not honesty, everything collapses.

[troy.s]

The problem with democracy is that 51% get to tell the other 49% how to live their lives.

The problem with representative democracy is when the representatives stop representing the people and start representing the interests of authority.

[ajbg]

My father has always told me that good governance starts with citizens who can think critically. That tyranny he alludes to is visible through emotional appeals rather thank logical appeals to people. I see this as an indictment on the US political system at large

[pederjohansen]

What amazes me is that there are so many great intellectual people out there and we never hear about them till late in life.

[sgtcrtrdnl]

Democracy REQUIRES an informed and moral public. America has neither.

[InKwetrust]

What is it called when banks, healthcare industry, pharma, aipac, foreign lobbies, oil and gas, hedge funds, wall st, and corporate monopolies and billionaires own ur government?

[darksaga]

"its a Republic, if you can keep it.'

[Phillips-td]

Democracy will only be an effective form of government if citizens are well-informed, have a communal interest, and hold those who govern accountable.

[megret]

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding on what to have for lunch. The cure is a well armed lamb." Ben Franklin

[Nostalgicholy]

The quality of democracy depends on the quality of the citizens and the quality of the elected officials.

[Tocqueville]

This is one of the best descriptions of our Representative Consititutional Republic...This should be shown in every Congressional and Senatorial hearing

[jackfoley]

Beautifully articulated. Right now we need to service this beautiful governmental engine of ours and clean up the corruption that’s kept in. Reversing citizens United would be a hell of a good start.

[davidpaine]

A Republic is based on the concept of government being restricted to its constitution. So any time you hear a politician stating that the constitution is the problem...rest assured they want to take your rights away.

[jarvisaddison]

Here is what he left out. When people through their representatives figure out they can get access to the treasury through their votes then all things start heading down hill

[josh]

The problem is that we were meant to be a Union of States, but somehow we just have a super overpowering, super over taxing federal government.

[bobaguirre]

Every young American person should strive to aquire knowledge like this man is so eloquently describing.

[rlunnerstall]

Who is this man? Would love to hear more from him. His voice is so calm and he makes sense