Merriam Webster's Definition of democracy
de·moc·ra·cy | \ di-ˈmä-krə-sē \
plural: democracies
1a: government by the people especially : rule of the majority
b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
2: a political unit that has a democratic government
3: the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the U.S.
from Emancipation Republicanism to New Deal Democracy— C. M. Roberts
4: the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority
5: the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges
“Democracy depends on an informed population. And where can people get all the information they need? —At the Library.”
-Elliot Shelkrot
If you're looking for more insights into our democracy, the library has subscriptions to news magazines that can help. News publications can provide you with both quick overviews or detailed information, they can help you learn the historical context of major headlines, can offer nuanced explanations of why current events are important, and help you understand their possible implications. For example The Atlantic has provided commentary on American news and politics since 1857. Other periodicals, like Foreign Policy and Mother Jones, focus on specific issues.
Here is a list of some of the news and current affairs magazines that the Ossining Public Library subscribes to. They represent a variety of political perspectives. The Atlantic, The Economist, Foreign Affairs, Harper's, Jacobin, Mother Jones, The Nation, National Review, The New Republic, Newsweek, Washington Monthly, and The Week. Patrons can read current issues in the library and check out back issues.