Quote Originally Posted by MadMojoMonkey View Post
America is not, by and large, "a democracy," rather it's a democratic republic.
By and large, we do not vote on our laws; we vote for the people who vote for us.
By and large, we do not vote for our civil officials; we vote for the people who appoint those officials.
This describes most "democracies". Switzerland is the only exception I can immediately think of.