I've been wondering when someone would dreg up the "this isn't a democracy, this is a republic" gobblydeegook around here. Talk about bizzare definitions. Of course this is a republic. Duhhh. Any piece of land which has definable borders, a constitution (however badly written and detrimental to the populous), and which isn't ruled by a hereditary monarch, is by definition a republic. The republic of the United States is structured by it's constitution as a representative form of Democracy; government of, by, and for the people. Now, Doug, what is the difference between that and your definition, or your ideal government?