Democracy - what is it?

Most Americans take for granted that we live in a democracy. But there may be as many different definitions of democracy as there are individuals. Clearly we never had a direct democracy. The founders established a form of representative democracy.

Over time it has grown less and less representative in terms of sheer numbers. For example, in 1790 there were about 4 million Americans and the House of Representatives had 65 elected members - about one representative for every 60,500 people. Today we have a population of about 300 million people and 435 members of the House of Representatives - about one representative for every 650,000 of us.

If one adds in all of the various forms of local representative governments (county boards, city councils, school boards, etc.) it is estimated that only 1/32 of 1% (0.0003125) of Americans serve in elected public office. Nationwide this is roughly one per 3300 people. To me, that is a very small number to be called rule “by the people.”

Given the technology that is available to us now compared to 1790 or 1860, one would think that this trend to rule by the few could be reversed.