Study Concludes the US is an Oligarchy, Not A Democracy

[SeaBreeze]

Study Shows the US is an Oligarchy, Not A Democracy

What kind of oligarchy? As Gawker’s Hamilton Nolan explains, Gilens and Page’s findings provide support for two theories of governance: economic elite domination and biased pluralism. The first is pretty straightforward and states that the ultra-wealthy wield all the power in a given system, though some argue that this system still allows elites in corporations and the government to become powerful as well. Here, power does not necessarily derive from wealth, but those in power almost invariably come from the upper class.

Biased pluralism on the other hand argues that the entire system is a mess and interest groups ruled by elites are fighting for dominance of the political process. Also, because of their vast wealth of resources, interest groups of large business tend to dominate a lot of the discourse.

In either case, the result is the same: Big corporations, the ultra-wealthy and special interests with a lot of money and power essentially make all of the decisions. Citizens wield little to no political power. America, the findings indicate, tends towards either of these much more than anything close to what we call “democracy” — systems such as majoritarian electoral democracy or majoritarian pluralism, under which the policy choices pursued by the government would reflect the opinions of the governed.

Nothing new: And no, this isn’t a problem that’s the result of any recent Supreme Court cases — at least certainly not the likes FEC v. Citizens United or FEC v. McCutcheon. The data is pretty clear that America has been sliding steadily into oligarchy for decades, mirrored in both the substantive effect on policy and in the distribution of wealth throughout the U.S. But cases like those might indicate the process is accelerating.

http://earthweareone.com/princeton-study-concludes-us-is-an-oligarchy-not-a-democracy/

 

[RCynic]

Well, they got it half right. Apparently even the reporter thinks we're a democracy when we are, in fact, a constitutional republic, or we were intended to be.

"In September of 1787 after the Constitution had been completed and signed, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin what kind of government the Constitutional Convention had created, to which he replied, “A Republic, ma’am if you can keep it.” What he meant was that it is up to "We the People" to keep and protect our republic, and not our government or our president."

http://www.theamericantyrant.com/TheRepublic/tabid/3633/Default.aspx

 

[Meanderer]

It's hard for us to think of that day, when the ink on the words of freedom was still wet! Everyday since then, it has been the wet ink on words that have changed their meaning.

 

[Jackie22]

Well, we certainly saw another example of this in yesterday's Supreme Court ruling.

 

[kcvet]

the few the proud the idiots

 

[WhatInThe]

Yes big money corporations and family money can influence a lot. But there a lot of decisions that individual members of the public make on their own that influence or are influenced by business & politicians.

For example when it comes to business, marketers have capitalized and exploited most American consumers demand for status and instant gratification. I know too many people that refuse to think economically or look at a price tag out of personal laziness, they buy what they want and on impulse enabled by those "evil" credit cards/companies-did anyone force you to carry 10 credit cards or buy a house on credit with an interest that would double a few years later? NO! It was about status-" I'm a homeowner ", " I have the American Dream now, here today-look at me", even worse is the sense of entitlement many American citizens have. Businesses and politicians exploit this daily through marketing and campaigning which is basically year round political marketing.

A perfect example of American ignorance by choice was the decades long tanking of the domestic job market through down sizing, outsourcing and diluting the workforce with excess labor among other practices But even with A crappy job and credit you could get what you wanted-the citizen got their instant gratification & things along with the selective status that comes with them. The economy/job market didn't tank in 2008. It was going on for DECADES but when you buy a shiny new car and blast the radio on your way to and from a crappy job from a company that will have no loyalty to you 3 years down the road why think about the future when you can think about the big game, beer, the big screen or telling the world about your meaningless life on facebook.

I think many of these institutions cater to the public/individual a lot more than people think. Individuals do have a choice including a choice to take the time to learn an issue/problem and participate in changing the direction of an issue. But that darn pesky word called 'time'. Time???-who has that.