>In a functioning democracy, the government is the people. If the government is against the people, it's not a functioning democracy.
The U.S. are a republic not a democracy. The people vote for the government but are not expected to be directly involved with it after the fact.
I think you're confused about the meaning of "democracy".
I think GP is confused about the meaning of republican government. In a democracy like ancient Athens the people are directly involved in governance, but that's not what we have in the U.S. and other advanced countries. We elect representatives.