We are a representative republic.

The USA is a democratic republic.

The United States has the best government money can buy. Since the economy is based on money, then politics, power and influence are ultimately based on money.

Martin and Wide Awake are both correct. We are officially a Democratic Republic, but given our use of an electoral college versus popular vote, we operate more as a Representative Republic.

Criminal and Corrupt.

Corporate driven fundamentalism

Now that's just embarrassing even for a homework question!!

A democratic republic.

I see the U.S. government as a Fascist Plutocracy. The super-rich are the dictatorial leader. The Fascism is more prevalent when right-wing, conservative Republicans exercise their agenda. Below is a definition of Fascism. It may not be clear that we are fascist until you read and seriously ponder the "Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism" also posted below. Inserted into the Fourteen Characteristics are quotes of Adolf Hitler. Fascism defined: 1: often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. 2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge> The term "plutocracy" is formally defined as government by the wealthy, and is also sometimes used to refer to a wealthy class that controls a government, often from behind the scenes. More generally, a plutocracy is any form of government in which the wealthy exercise the preponderance of political power, whether directly or indirectly. Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism By Dr. Lawrence Britt Source Free Inquiry.co 5-28-3 Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each: 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. 2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc. *The day of individual happiness has passed. -Adolf Hitler *Humanitarianism is the expression of stupidity and cowardice. -Adolf Hitler 3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc. *Hate is more lasting than dislike. -Adolf Hitler *The art of leadership... consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary (terror) and taking care that nothing will split up that attention. -Adolf Hitler *The people can always be brought to the bidding of their leaders. All you have to do is tell them that they are in danger of being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. -Hermann Goering 4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. *Strength lies not in defence but in attack. -Adolf Hitler 5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution. 6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government (elite rich), but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. *By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise. -Adolf Hitler *The broad masses of a population are more amenable (susceptible) to the appeal of rhetoric than to any other force. -Adolf Hitler 7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. *The people can always be brought to the bidding of their leaders. All you have to do is tell them that they are in danger of being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. -Hermann Goering 8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. *Who says I am not under the special protection of God? -Adolf Hitler *It is always more difficult to fight against faith than against knowledge. -Adolf Hitler *I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator. -Adolf Hitler 9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. *Success (wealth, power) is the sole earthly judge of right and wrong. -Adolf Hitler 10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed. 11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked. *How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think. -Adolf Hitler 12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations. 13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. 14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections. *It is not truth that matters, but victory. -Adolf Hitler *The victor will never be asked if he told the truth. -Adolf Hitler *Sooner will a camel pass through a needle's eye than a great man be "discovered" by an election. -Adolf Hitler From Liberty Forum To me it is obvious that the US practices all 14 of these fascist characteristics. If you are unable to see a particular characteristic reflected in current US government policy, ponder these quotes... *By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise. -Adolf Hitler *How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think. -Adolf Hitler *I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few. -Adolf Hitler *If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed. -Adolf Hitler *It is always more difficult to fight against faith than against knowledge. -Adolf Hitler Right now we are being manipulated to fear the implementation of some good, common-sense policies that are being labeled as "socialist." None of these ideologies (communism, socialism, capitalism) have ever been instituted absolutely. There has never been absolute communism or socialism practiced anywhere on the planet. We certainly do not have anything close to absolute capitalism here in the United States. But good common-sense ideas that may be labeled as "socialist" is not what we should be fearing. It is the Fascism staring us right in the face that we should do everything in our power to avoid. It is the plutocracy in the guise of representative democracy that we need to fight against... so that in the words of Abraham Lincoln: "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world. -Abraham Lincoln I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day. -Abraham Lincoln All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. -Thomas Jefferson Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies. -Thomas Jefferson I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master. -Thomas Jefferson I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. -Thomas Jefferson When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. -Thomas Jefferson Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. -Dwight D. Eisenhower Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America. -Dwight D. Eisenhower We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -Dwight D. Eisenhower We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. -Dwight D. Eisenhower You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it. -Malcolm X The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. -Thomas Jefferson Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy. -George Bernard Shaw

It is a representative democratic republic that has managed to vote itself largess, against the wishes of its founders. It shall soon devolve into a totalitarian Socialist state at the hands of a Democrat super-majority with the full cooperation of the Republican capitulators. No exaggeration. Only truth.

one that does not give a shit about people with little money

Very little.

Ineffective.