We're really a republic ...

... so I hate it when people say that the USA is a democratic country.

In a true democracy, the voters vote on everything. Every law, every official, etc.

In a republic, the voters elect people who then vote on the major issues. Sure, alot of the local and state elections are democratic, but it stops there.

The biggest "republic" act is the electoral college process every year. Sure, you pull your lever for Obama or push your button for McCain, but when it comes down to it, some "electorate" makes the official decision for you and possibly millions more in your state. Most states also go by the "all or none" rule, where as if the majority of the state's electoral votes goes one way, then all the electoral votes from that state go to the majority candidate.

Seems a little fishy to me.

The electoral college idea came from a time when the "common people" weren't considered knowledgable enough to be trusted in choosing the nation's leader. If you ask me, I think it's an antiquated process and skews the perception of the support for the candidate.

This is seen every election where the popular vote is nowhere near the electoral college vote margins. And, in the rare occasion, the "popular" president doesn't win because he has a slightly less number of electoral votes!

Amazing.

So ... I don't want this to sound anti-American or anti-voting, but it's just something to think about.

As for me, I'm hitting the polls at the local parochial school (separation of church and state? that's a topic for another day) after work, then I'm gonna sit back, have a beer and watch the republic unfold on TV.

Peace! Vote! twice, even! ;)