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Nothing angers me more than when snarks like yourself (usually conservatives) start wagging their educated fingers at others while pointing out the fact that we live in a republic and not a democracy. Though technically true, the terms "republic" and "democracy" have been used equally to describe ourselves and our system of government throughout our history.
Woodrow Wilson, War Messages, 65th Cong., 1st Sess. Senate Doc. No. 5, Serial No. 7264, Washington, D.C., 1917; pp. 3-8, passim.
...for the rights of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of...
FDR, Fireside Chat, December 29, 1940
Democracy's fight against world conquest is being greatly aided, and must be more greatly aided, by the rearmament of the United States and by...
Ronald Reagan, "Evil Empire Speech", June 8, 1982
Optimism comes less easily today, not because democracy is less vigorous, but because democracy's enemies have refined their instruments of repression.
I could go on, but you get the point. So please spare us your gotcha wisdom.