Earlier quoted context omitted.
Was America actually a democracy prior to the voting rights act of 1965? (Not trolling, this is a critical part of the issue, the extent to which black people could actually participate in said democracy)
"Stable, prosperous" stands in for "democracy" in most discussions, this one included. Things that look like democracy (peaceful succession, generally non-violent political competition, an electorate too vast to bribe outside policy channels, checks and balances, et cetera ) simply have the best track record in achieving this aim.
"But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument'," Alice objected.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less."
I can see where you're coming from, and it's the view that has led the US to support undemocratic rightwing parties over democratic leftwing ones in a lot of places. Including some parts of the US.
> generally non-violent political competition
The US is a little strange on this one, in that armed revolution against the government seems to be something that people talk about all the time but never do.