Slartibartfas

Well I think we should be seperating those terms then. Austria lays out in its institution four principles that form its fundament. Two of them are the republican and the democratic principle. So I guess you can say it claims to be a democratic Republic.

But this Republic is used the way I know it, as labeling a state without a monarch.

Americas "Republic" seems to mean something different if I got you right. Whats the core of it? Power separation?

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Brother Oz

To be honest, I'm not really an expert, but power separation is a part of it. One point is power limits: government is allowed to make certain kind of laws, and not others, for example the American federal government cannot make laws establishing a religion.
The problem is, America isn't really a Republic in the way they originally worked, as they are designed for city-states.
Republics are supposed to be very participatory. Citizens are supposed to participate in politics all the time, not just at elections. I don't really understand how that works though.
The primary theorist of Republicanism is Cicero, so if you research him you might understand it more.

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Slartibartfas

I read a fictive biography of Cicero (I have not finished the last few pages tough)

What Cicero practiced was a hybrid out of direct democracy and mob rule
Very interesting indeed.

The American "Republic" doesn't have too much in common with that Roman Republic I think. And perhaps thats not the worst thing either as you probably know the fate of that Republic Cicero lived in.

My own two cents would be that the American "Republic" simply means clever power balance between three branches. That alone does not need democracy however. Thats why I would say America is both, a republic and a democracy.

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Fido

There is not much difference between anarchy and democracy since freedom is nearly absolute, and each man is free in the conduct of his affairs so far as it does not effect others. All forms of government that are not democracy are not governments unless one defines government as one group ruling another. Our republic, where less than a true majority, and even less than an interested majority can determine who will rule without recall, and who will dictate laws and those who will judge laws. If itis bad government it is not democracy, because only a perversion of democracy would inspire a people to act against their own interests long or short term. We could not be led off on foreign adventures or see the whole country in the pockets of the rich without democracy dead and gone. We still have the illusion of democracy, and the memory of democracy; but all await having even this dream snatched away to prove if we have been a success or a failure as an enterprise.

Miltiades

As for the best style of government, can't say. There isnt really a good type of government as people will always be unhappy with somthing in the government and they will rebel (eventually). Anarchy would be good, but only if it was universal. But then there would be no protection and chaos would flow eventually so I can scratch that.
There is a saying, can't give credit to whoever said it, I forgot. It is:
Demoicracy is the worst type of Government....Besides all the others
Nicly put. Democracy works, but only for those like the one in power.

If there is a system of government that truly makes everyone happy I would love to see it.

Oh, and a republic (such as Rome's republic where an elected senate rules) would work best as you can please mostly everyone as just about every party has a say and there is no direct ruler with compleate power.

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counterpointing

Whenever anyone tries to come up with the perfect government, they always come to the same conclusion: communism. Thomas More created Utopia. Nowadays you have Star Trek perpetuating the communist Utopia. But human kind is not perfect and can’t live in a perfect government, or create one.

Miltiades

Communism "works" the best but come on. No one wants to have a communism. Its like boiled vegtables. Some how good for you, but tastes all nasty so you spit it back out and hide it under the table.

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counterpointing

Maybe in a thousand years, when we are all docile peace loving creatures, communism will prevail. Not now though, we are still in the build bigger bombs stage of evolution. Oh yeah, and love everything green: money, energy, weed.

Miltiades

either peace loving or not so idiotic. Most people, including myself at times, care less about humanity than their own gain. Communsims will help achieve greater good for humanity, not indeviduals. Not saying we should be commys, but it just is the best way to create a better whole sadly

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mkfffe

Out of the choices given, I have to say the Democratic Republic of the US is the best form of government. Anarchy would never work, for people are not perfect, and Anarchy can only work with a perfect human race. Anarchy sounds nice though, no government, no need for protection, but that's not the world we live in. Democracy is too slow, espcially in larger political bodies. If we had to get every single American to vote on every single issue, nothing would ever be done, and the institutions would not be flexible enough to change to the environment around them. The oligarchy, well, why should only a few rule. A few olicharchies turn into "aristocracies" anyway so the rich have all the power, not much different in our current system though. Autocracy, well, not always seen as the best form of government the autocracy can be the best in times of emergency. No need for a Senate to decide what to do, no need for the people to decide, just one man. However, most autocracies we think about are dictatorships or the like. Personally, the best form of government is the republic, because it puts a few people in the government chosen by the people, than the rest of us can complain when they screw up. For shame.