The Athenians had some real good ideas there, Don.

The Dutch also had a parliamentary democracy with party politics and elected representatives way back in the 1600s (1581 - 1795 to be exact) following their winning of independence from Spain. It was a long time after the formation of the Dutch Republic that such a republican representative system was set up in the fledling USA. The Dutch nation was called "the United Provinces", a federation of 7 provinces. (note the similarity of name: United Provinces...United States) Oddly enough, young Americans are not taught about that early Dutch Republic in school, but are given the impression that such a form of republican government didn't even happen until the much later formation of the United States out of the Thirteen Colonies.

- Chongo