One measure of democracy is how much say you have in issues which affect you, the running of your neighborhood, your government etc.

If you look at decision making at high levels, the general population usually gets ignored. Instead, powerful special interests dominate the government.

Particularly with regard to foreign affairs of the USA, the oil lobby and weapons manufacturers. And look who's benefiting from the current state of affairs in Ukraine, Iran and Venezuela: US arms manufacturers and oil companies.

On the other hand in many ways people in the USA are extroardinarly free, there's pretty good protection of freedom of speech.