People & Blogs
“If we can tell a better story about democracy, we can tell a better story about America” #TEDTalks
Our brains are hardwired to crave community and belonging — a tribal instinct that drives politics in the United States, says political strategist Sarah Longwell. She shares what she learned trying to convince people to vote against their political party in a recent election and shows why telling a better story about democracy is key…
@NatashaJ1985
July 7, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Preach
@theloveiswhere
July 7, 2026 at 3:10 pm
America is a constitutional Republic, not a democracy. Democracy is majority rules, in a constitutional Republic the leaders are elected and are bound by the rules of the Constitution. Pure democracy can be unstable and dangerous (two wolves and a lamb deciding on lunch). Yes, we are a representative democracy but not all democracies are constitutional republics. Big difference!
@Mistah_Green
July 8, 2026 at 7:03 am
We are in fact a democracy lol
@Gckirbydtx
July 7, 2026 at 3:50 pm
WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY!!! And hopefully we never will be
@Mistah_Green
July 8, 2026 at 7:00 am
Go look up what a representative democracy is
@eternalharmonystudios
July 7, 2026 at 4:41 pm
we owe it to all those who were unjustly killed and those who sacrificed their lives for the creation of this nation
@DavidWilliamsJersey
July 7, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Sarah is speaking in a vacuum
@paulz.2153
July 7, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Brilliant that’s exactly what we need
@Azayrian105
July 7, 2026 at 6:10 pm
I think we need to do it in the most brain rotted fashion possible. It needs to become a viral meme or several memes. That way it can actually penetrate the sphere where the people most vulnerable to misinformation about democracy, kids, can see and understand it. It needs to be approachable to the modern day individual as giving a lecture just means most people would swipe away. Don’t get me wrong I have no idea how to do it but it can’t be through Ted talks anymore as those who watch these aren’t the people that need to see it most of the time.
@Della-t3v
July 7, 2026 at 7:40 pm
@Azayrian105 this
@AriHartnett
July 7, 2026 at 8:45 pm
@Azayrian105 I agree. Democracy needs to be based, and plutocrats need to be cringe
@Azayrian105
July 7, 2026 at 8:55 pm
@AriHartnettno matter how stupid it sounds it needs to be approached on the level that the people can understand and want to engage with more.
@rileyelben527
July 7, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Maybe we should acknowledge that we’re a constitutional republic and not a democracy.
@MsKillerK-NY
July 7, 2026 at 8:37 pm
We’re both a constitutional republic and a representative democracy.
@Mistah_Green
July 8, 2026 at 7:01 am
@MsKillerK-NY more accurately a constitutional, representative democracy
@MrTurtleNeck
July 7, 2026 at 7:04 pm
What no theory does to your political worldview
@Droppingknowledge1234
July 7, 2026 at 7:17 pm
Maybe she realize we are not a democracy , we are a republic . Pure democracy is called a dictatorship of the majority.
@Mistah_Green
July 8, 2026 at 6:58 am
Go look up what a representative democracy is 🤣
@Droppingknowledge1234
July 8, 2026 at 8:25 am
@M@Mistah_GreenGo look up the constitution .
All states don’t have the same vote in congress , presidents are not elected based on a simple majority .
@freyasrulez
July 7, 2026 at 8:25 pm
We need to stop preaching that we should be competing against each other for everything. Competition creates self-preservation, and that’s how democracy dies. Too many people only worrying about themselves and not their fellow human.
@Mistah_Green
July 8, 2026 at 7:07 am
Preaching that we shouldn’t be doesn’t fundamentally change the way our economy operates though. Trying to convince people that socialism is good is an uphill battle
@freyasrulez
July 8, 2026 at 2:23 pm
@Mistah_Green Just need to wait for enough to become burnt out
@old.not.too.grumpy.
July 8, 2026 at 12:35 am
But America is classed as a flawed democracy.
The President is not directly elected
The exective are appointees not accountable to the electorate
The high cost of being elected only allows a limited number of people to stand for office
The system is geared to the two main parties. Third party candidates and Independents are marginalised. The electorate are not given real choice
Democracy is more than holding regular elections
@Mistah_Green
July 8, 2026 at 7:08 am
Agreed. Let’s get rid of the EC and make all swing states proportionate instead
@old.not.too.grumpy.
July 8, 2026 at 7:28 am
@Mistah_Green yes have a vote where the the popular vote elects the president.
Scrap primaries. A simple vote of party members to chhose the candidates. To cit down costs and end the two party domination of the news to give third party candidates greater opportunity.
@roligue
July 8, 2026 at 7:33 am
What democracy? The government is run by rich people from behind the scenes anyway
@charlesk2850
July 8, 2026 at 11:38 am
F**k democracy, we live in a constitutional Republic
@Mistah_Green
July 9, 2026 at 5:29 am
We are a constitutional, representative democracy
@charlesk2850
July 9, 2026 at 9:29 am
@Mistah_Greenyou are the wrongest person on the Internet, and that’s shocking
@thomaskeller6085
July 8, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Yes tell us more about democracy? As opposed to republic.
@static_echo
July 8, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Democracy ended when we allowed corporations and the rich to buy our political parties