"It's Like a Democracy In There"

Recently, as I was waiting in line at the local courthouse, a gentleman and his girlfriend were standing behind me having a discussion about the traffic court experience that he just had.  As he complained about the numerous tickets that he had received, and how the courthouse should have marble floors from all of the fines he had paid, he then complained about how the Judge didn't allow him any input or feedback during the hearing.  He said it was "like a democracy in there".  When I heard this it took everything I had to keep my mouth shut.  Then I felt bad for him and for us.  It is sad when our citizens don't even know the basic differences between a democracy and a dictatorship.