Taking the U.S. as an example, how can a democracy function if half the people hate the elected leader -- a state of affairs which usually continues until the next election cycle before repeating itself?

With over 6 million people disenfranchised can the US truly be described as a democracy?

So this implies that half of Americans hate President Trump. I can guarantee that is not the case.

True, it's more than half.

False.

So this implies that half of Americans hate President Trump. I can guarantee that is not the case

No, you cannot.

Yes, I can. I'll be proved right in Nov.

IF the US WERE a Democracy, but the US is a Constitutional Republic with 3 equal branches of government. This fact seems lost on many.

Democracy fails when half the electorate is stupid and uneducated. Even more so when the president is stupid and uneducated.

how can a democracy function if half the people hate the elected leader

It can't. Such a "democracy" is broken, and on the verge of civil war.

Whether or not 100% like or dislike a leader it would be called a dictatorship. So there is nothing wrong with 50%

Well, we are always told that diversity is strength. So why is it not strength, when the country is so divided'? Unity is weakness, after all.

Or are we having it both ways suddenly?

Bad question.

The U.S. is not 'the' example of how a democracy can function if half the people [hate?] (I'd say 'disapprove of') the elected leader. There are examples on every continent.

And 'until the next election cycle {repeats} itself' is a given. That's what democratic politics is all about - constant criticism. Repeat after me.

I feel this is a serious problem as the 2 party system promotes us vs them mentality, the party defines who you are, not the sum of the members of the party defines the party. Everything is binary, what you are running for isn't important only if you are for it or not.

Hate is rather an overstatement for most countries, USA? I don’t know but the media does like to portray it as an implacable divide.

So is the threat to democracy the politicians or the media, discuss.

So this implies that half of Americans hate President Trump. I can guarantee that is not the case

No, you cannot.

In theory a democracy is never 50% divided, so it is the majority will that will hopefully prevail. Mass media ensures though that there is so little to choose between candidates that the population comes close to that 50% saturation point, where no wind blows and democracy becomes rudderless.

Much of the hatred is generated by smaller numbers of clever-Dick opinionated loudmouths on either side.

So this implies that half of Americans hate President Trump. I can guarantee that is not the case.

True, it's more than half.

Taking the U.S. as an example, how can a democracy function if half the people hate the elected leader

So this implies that half of Americans hate President Trump. I can guarantee that is not the case.

Here's a good example -

Four More Years’; President Trump cheered loudly at College Football National Championship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzzLeYfAzB0

It’s worth remembering that almost half US adults can’t be arsed voting. I’m not sure half the country is engaged enough to hate the president if they couldn’t be bothered voting.

I think only having two electable parties encourages us vs. them thinking, meaning one side will always be unhappy no matter who is in power. It also leads to stagnation as each party spends a lot of time and effort rolling back the changes made by the other party. A realistic third or fourth option might encourage more pragmatism and compromise. Still, I'd probably take the two party system in the US over the one party system in Japan.

A leader can still function even if half the population hates him, he just needs to deliver and get the job done. You can't please everybody. However, I'm imagining that having half of the population seeking to throw you off a cliff if given the chance would not make it easy for you live your private life