We are mostly a republic, not a democracy

The failure to protect minority rights is a readily understood consequence of the political logic behind the emergence of democracy. What requires explanation is not the relative rarity of liberal democracy, but its existence.

Dani Rodrik being purposefully dumb about the American system. 

Dani wants to avoid the small state payoff required to keep government running.  He will get no where with this approach, it has been tried for 250 years, always fails.