• @SCB@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    16
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    My dude the USA is a representative democracy.

    That’s the way that kind of government sometimes functions, which is why we need strong institutions.

    • @MUHn4d0@feddit.de
      link
      fedilink
      211 months ago

      It is not representative tho. I learned in school that a principle of democracy is the equal vote. Each vote counts the same. In the USA each vote counts for a random amount and the people actually electing the president are not even bound to the election results. With the supreme court being this openly corrupt the path to a dictatorship is not that far off.

      • @SCB@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        3
        edit-2
        11 months ago

        I learned in school that a principle of democracy is the equal vote.

        In a direct democracy, this is true. In a representative democracy, this is not.

        In the USA each vote counts for a random amount

        It isn’t random, and the amount is absolutely gamed in favor of a certain party, which is, again, why we need strong institutions.

        • @Tavarin@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          711 months ago

          The president isn’t voted on as part of the representatives, the office of the president is a separate vote and is supposed to be a direct vote. But the number of electors for each state has not kept up with each state’s population, which has fucked up the power of presidential votes.

            • @Tavarin@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              211 months ago

              The electors only exist because it made it possible to hold a vote across a large nation in a time when horses were the fastest mode of communication. And each elector was supposed to carry the results of the same number of voters.

              But the country has grown, with some states growing in population much faster than others. Yet the number of electors remains unchanged. Not to mention electors are now completely unnecessary as we have fast and reliable communication methods.

              • @SCB@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                -1
                edit-2
                11 months ago

                You can disagree with the electoral college and still recognize that electors are literally representatives.

                This is basic civics.

                • @Tavarin@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  011 months ago

                  But they aren’t really, they’re just vote messengers, they aren’t on capital hill making laws and advocating for their constituents.

                  • @SCB@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    -111 months ago

                    All representatives are “vote messengers.” That’s why we call them representatives.