Commentary The phrase “Our Democracy” has become ubiquitous in “progressive” political output. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is fond of it, as is Vice President Kamala Harris. It also has become common in congressional bills. But you shouldn’t confuse Our Democracy with real democracy. The initial modifier serves to debase the noun—much as “sub-human” means less than human or “social justice” rationalizes acts of individual injustice. Conservatives sometimes answer the phrase “Our Democracy” by responding that our form of government is not supposed to be a pure democracy. That misses a larger point: “Our Democracy” is not any kind of democracy at all. Well-functioning democracy rests on the rule of law, a fact recognized since the time of Pericles (c. 495–429 BCE) (pdf). The rule of law requires that laws be applied impartially. It also requires that those seeking change do so through established processes, not through violence. Violence is …