[Zigurd]

Balderdash. Russia has elections. There are plenty of places with elected governments that don't rise to the definition of democracy. We can't really claim to be a democracy without citing the caveats that our elections are bought by the Epstein class, and that we have a nearly overt fascist movement, with some tech industry leaders in that movement, among other ways in which democracy is degraded in the US.

Not maintaining and cultivating our democracy reduces our legitimacy, and when our acts affect the whole planet, that legitimacy matters.