This bothers me way more than I wish it would.

Why do Americans bother with pledging alligence to the flag of the United States of America, AND TO THE REPUBLIC...when they don't even know what the hell a republic is?

A republic, as in "Republican" form of government has the seperation of powers. That no longer seems to be the type of government Americans want anymore. They want a strong leader who will use the power of the executive order to circumvent the Republican form of government and get things done.

I suspect this lack of respect for law and due process is a consequence of a broken monetary system. The sovereign debt crisis is causing the powers that be to use strong-arm tactics. Mandibles first, then hyperbitcoinization.