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