I was recently was ask to explain the use of the terms “democracy” vs “republic” from someone who did not understand why Americans pledge allegiance to a republic but politicians talk about USA being a democracy. Here is my answer in part:
“First, look up the terms related to form of governing structures then here’s a short take:  In a Republic, there are elected official who represent the people who one by one vote for representatives that will address their concerns.  The representatives, hopefully, do the will of the people who elected them.

In a company with a Republic-like structure:  The C Suite has been chosen (sometimes elected by a board) to run things profitably.  They can only “run things” if people stay in the organization and offer their talents to it.  The C Suite is wise that asks for feedback often from everyone, one by one.  However, the C Suite can do whatever it chooses.  Ergo the ethics dilemma begins similar to what happens and is happening in the USA right now.  The one by one voters are saying you are not listening to us and making decisions in our best interest.  In the case of the country, a grass roots rising has begun called the Tea Party who is forcing accountability that politicians should have ethically given from the beginning.  For a company, many have left the company and started another company or gone to work for someone else if the C Suite is horrid.

Running a country as a pure democracy or a company as a pure democracy, if the country or the company is over 50 employees runs in to chaos and low productivity; you cannot please everyone.  Now often comes mob rule and coercion where, again, people will choose to flee  on the one hand or total obsolescence (unsustainable bottom line).  Actually, what we call a pure democracy really turns into socialism where everyone gets the same amount of everything except those who spring to the top of the Mob to rule and coerce (usually in a not nice matter, i.e, Afghanistan before USA liberation or companies like the old sweat shops with child labor…. here came unions… well, that is another story.

A great analogy can be made to family structure as well.  When children are young, Mom and Dad rule, hopefully, in the child’s best interest.  However, when the child becomes an adult, the adult wants to go out and form his or her own family and call the shots until… yep the kids grow up.  The “Republic” structure is the best structure for a family in its young stages.   As the family matures, the “pure democracy” does not work because the goal of maturity is that you contribute from your specialties not from your parents – conflict arises and the kids rightfully choose to move out.  That to say,  some people outgrow the need for the Republic structure of a company and become freelancers who dip in and out of various companies offering a fresh perspective.  A couple of example perspectives: “I really like your company and the product or service it renders, but would not want to work here.”  “I like your company and the product or service is renders and want to play a part in it, follow, but don’t particularly want to call all the shots. I would rather focus on my niche and give feedback when you ask me.”

This subject takes much greater thought than presented here but hope that sends you in the right pursuit of knowledge.  The misuse of the word democracy and the false perceptions it brings up becomes a false rallying point to what we sometimes do not really want.  A rose by any other name is not a rose.”

Where am I and what do I do?  I am the freelancer who realized that I could serve my country best by moving amongst the movers and shakers and inspiring all to be where they are best fit for the best deliverable in the Spirit of American Exceptionalism.