Is a representative republic better that a democracy?

Question

If you call America's government a democracy, someone might say "Its not a democracy, its a representative republic." They might go on about how democracy is mob rule and that it is akin to two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

This implies that 51% should not be able to rule over 49%.

Why is it better for the 51% to vote to give proxy legislative power to a single individual, over the 100%?

To that, some people might make a point that it'd be very hard for millions of people to vote on laws and such. I think they're a little misguided. It has nothing to do with efficiently creating new laws, but creating the right framework of laws that people can agree with.

For instance, a man in Indiana has little interest in what the laws of New Mexico are...how is it better for Indiana to appoint a representative that has influence on the laws of New Mexico, and vice versa, than people determining their own rules, locally?

No references to the US Constitution, please. This question is not about a 200 year old magical scroll, it's about logic.

? · Accepted Answer

So that we can blame our politicians for the problems in society instead of accepting the blame ourselves.

I don't like the "two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner" analogy either, but I think that I have, perhaps, a different reason for disliking it than you do.

? · Answer

1) Constitutional Representative Republic with Democratic Principles.
2) We have state representatives in Congress that help protect the interests of the state.
3) The system protects against the tyranny of the large states over the smaller states.
4) Understanding such laws is a full-time job, not a guessing game.  Without a representative who makes it their business, those that are informed on such votes would be vastly outnumbered by those who were not informed, and many very foolish decisions would be made.
5) We do determine much of our law locally, but the Federal government has been trying to overstep it's bounds for decades.
6) Your lack of understanding of our Constitution and it's actual structure, along with the reasons for the structures our Founders created is fairly ignorant, and your dismissal of it arrogant.

Either go study the reasons for why our Constitution is set up the way it is and the reasons for those rules, or expect that those of us who have will not have much respect for you dismissal of our "magic scroll".

Educate yourself, please.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes a democracy is just a dictatorship of the 51%. A republic gives everyone a voice.

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Is a representative republic better that a democracy?

3 Answers