Democracy is distinguishing factor
One of your readers insists that America is a republic, not a democracy (Jan. 21). Well, for sure, we are not a monarchy. But there is quite a distance between not-a-monarchy and all the other forms of government that now prevail and also proclaim to be republics.
The expression "republic" is thus not very definitive - hardly more than saying there exists an independent country with recognized borders.
By calling our country a democracy we distinguish ourselves from most of these other republics and herald the aspiration that our form of governance seeks a broad inclusion of its citizens in its rule. So, yes, a republic and, yes, a democracy. In America, objecting to this aspiration is telling indeed.
Jim Kinney
Vernon Hills
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