> What does “democracy” mean to you? A country where people vote, but unelected bureaucrats and lawyers actually run things and will do what they think is best?

"People" generally don't have the expertise to run things in a complex modern world. Bureaucrats and lawyers aren't always better, but pace Damon Runyon (quoting sportswriter Hugh Keough), that's the way to bet. [0]

"Democracy" in a complex modern world means that "people" periodically get an opportunity to toss out the bureaucrats and lawyers — because ballots are better than bullets.

[0] "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet." https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/06/04/race-swift/#google_...

The problem isn’t that bureaucrats and lawyers are exercising their expertise. It’s that they’re elevating their personal values above their jobs and institutions. They need to shut up and dribble.

In the united states, the people get to influence things through their representatives in congress, not through unlimited executive power.

I don't believe that congress is doing a good job representing the people but I don't think that the solution to that is to elect a king.

I don't think the president should be above the law. I think most presidents have committed crimes and I'd like to see them face more scrutiny not less.