What does democracy mean in this country any more?

Democracy is described as “a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges”

Im my eyes, this is certainly not what I see in this country. Democracy is about choice. What we have now is the periodic casting of a vote that will at best rotate the personnel implementing the same policies. Brendan Howlin, in the run up to the 2011 election, said “we are not in favour of water charges”. Brendan Howlin a member of the EMC, now enforces water charges having sought and obtained a democratic mandate to oppose it.

Enda Kenny tried to get rid of the Seanad for no good reason. Is this what we call democracy?