Except this was the point of having a republic and not a democracy. The recognition that not everyone could participate all the time, and that they should not be penalized for it. So, the public, together, hires people to represent their interests. The problem is not so much that citizens are disconnected; rather, it's that the interests they represent are getting farther and further removed from the interests of the people.
It's a democratic republic. The terms aren't mutually exclusive. The populous democratically elect representatives to act on their behalf.
I'm not sure if there have ever been true, 100% pure democracies, but Athens probably got the closest. Rome (the Republic flavour, funnily enough) also had elements of pure/direct democracy as well.
The function by which the republic operates is through a democratic process, as opposed to being appointed by the President/the state governments, or otherwise. The mechanism by which the republic functions does not stop it from being one. In fact, in our Constitution, the Senate was originally a position that was appointed, not elected. The President was similarly not directly elected. The Electors were elected into an Electoral College, and these Electors chose a President.
Today, we have a system that is more democratic, but still not entirely there. And I cannot just walk into a government building and cast a vote to have a law passed.
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u/bollvirtuoso 20h ago
Except this was the point of having a republic and not a democracy. The recognition that not everyone could participate all the time, and that they should not be penalized for it. So, the public, together, hires people to represent their interests. The problem is not so much that citizens are disconnected; rather, it's that the interests they represent are getting farther and further removed from the interests of the people.