FB friend is obsessed with the notion that the country is a republic (and not a democracy).

[zipplewrath]

10. To derail the larger discussion

It's most likely an attempt to derail a discussion that he feels he lacks knowledge or an advantage.

The COUNTRY is a republic. Most states are representative democracies. The nature of the Senate, and to a smaller degree the House, plus the Electorial college make us something a bit less than a "pure" representative democracy. But we're really splittin' hairs here. Functionally there's not a whole lot of difference here in the US. The only time it is significant to a discussion is when the minority is forcing something upon the majority and someone exclaims "I thought we were a democracy" or "that's not a real democratic way to do things". It was never the intent of the system for the minority to be powerless, or to always succumb to the will of the majority. Unfortunately, the current situation with significant gerrymandering by the GOP has left the situation where our government is "controlled" by roughly 30 - 50 house members. THAT wasn't the intention of the republic either.