Is the US a democracy or plutocracy?

[deanhills]

In your opinion do you think the US is still a democracy? It would appear that people only really participate briefly during election day, and then from that moment forwards, they have no power at all. Legislation that is logically not good and popularly criticized still gets passed as there is something like lobbying and people who have money who can make things happen in their own interest.

Definition of Democracy in Wikipedia:

Even though there is no specific, universally accepted definition of 'democracy', there are two principles that any definition of democracy includes, equality and freedom. These principles are reflected by all citizens being equal before the law, and having equal access to power. A third common principle, though less measurable, is that all citizens are promised certain legitimized freedoms and liberties, which are generally protected by a constitution

Discussion of Plutocracy in Wikipedia:

Kevin Phillips, author and political strategist to U.S. President Richard Nixon, argues that the United States is a plutocracy in which there is a "fusion of money and government."

Positive influence includes campaign contributions; negative influence includes refusing to support the government financially by refusing to pay taxes, threatening to move profitable industries elsewhere, bribes, and so on. It can also be exerted by the owners and ad buyers of media properties which can shape public perception of political issues. Recent examples include Rupert Murdoch's News Corp's alleged political agendas in Australia, the UK[2] and the United States or the oil industry oligarchy, and billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife, which may back right-leaning political action committees (PACs), as well as billionaire George Soros' efforts to influence US politics by backing left-leaning PACs.

Recently, there have been numerous cases of wealthy individuals and organizations exerting financial pressure on governments to pass favorable legislation. (see: Lobbying) Most western democracies permit partisan organizations to raise funds for politicians, and it is well-known that political parties frequently accept significant donations from various individuals (either directly or through corporate institutions). Ostensibly this should have no effect on the legislative decisions of elected representatives; however it would be unlikely that no politicians are influenced by these contributions. Some describe these donations as bribes, although legally they are not.

 

[Dirk]

It would appear that people only really participate briefly during election day,

Do they?

What I see is that people get to decide between one group of conservative capitalist morons or another. That's not a choice. That's like saying here, I'll let you choose between lilac or light purple. Probably the biggest difference is the names.

It's no coincidence that the people with power are the people with money. The US is a plutocracy.

If you're interested, Dean, scholars like Korten and Chomsky have written numerous books, published numerous papers and given numerous lectures on the subject.

 

[deanhills]

The US is a plutocracy.

I agree with you, and perhaps even an oligarchy by people just giving their political power away, but not taking responsibility for it. You are right, the current political system gives them a choice between purple and purple light, and nobody seems to really care about it. Everyone is just too happy to give the job to someone else to do. To be truthful, perhaps the people do not deserve a democracy as they have not taken responsibility to ensure that their system stays democratic. It took a long time to evolve, but right now the Government is anything but democratic.

 

[Dirk]

right now the Government is anything but democratic.

With "representative democracy", I don't think we ever can really have democracy. So long as we have people that speak for us, however they are chosen, we don't live in a truly democratic society.

I also think that the terms socialism and Government are incompatible. You can have one or the other. But a "socialist Government" seems like an oxymoron to me. How can people have equality and freedom when positions of illegitemate authority exist?

Excuse the unrelated addition.

 

[ArghMonkey]

Apathy has taken over for most americans, they also arent very well versed in whats going on, this makes them susceptible to lies.

The old addage "If you think democracy doesnt matter, it wont" seems apt.

Corporatism runs the u.s. today sadly ...

 

[deanhills]

Apathy has taken over for most americans, they also arent very well versed in whats going on, this makes them susceptible to lies.

That is a pity, as this is probably why there is such an ongoing erosion in democracy.

 

[Abbott Presley]

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then the earth in the great cold the great dark the air and the earth abode of stones in the great cold alas alas in the year of their Lord six hundred and something the air the earth the sea the earth abode of stones in the great deeps the great cold on sea on land and in the air I resume for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis the facts are there but time will tell I resume alas alas on on in short in fine on on abode of stones who can doubt it I resume but not so fast I resume the skull to shrink and waste and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis on on the beard the flames the tears the stones so blue so calm alas alas on on the skull the skull the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the labours abandoned left unfinished graver still abode of stones in a word I resume alas alas abandoned unfinished the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the skull alas the stones Cunard (mêlée, final vociferations) 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result of the labours unfinished of Testew and Cunard it is established as hereinafter but not so fast for reasons unknown that as a result of the public works of Puncher and Wattmann it is established beyond all doubt that in view of the labours of Fartov and Belcher left unfinished for reasons unknown of Testew and Cunard left unfinished it is established what many deny that man in Possy of Testew and Cunard that man in Essy that man in short that man in brief in spite of the strides of alimentation and defecation is seen to waste and pine waste and pine and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the strides of physical culture the practice of sports such as tennis football running cycling swimming flying floating riding gliding conating camogie skating tennis of all kinds dying flying sports of all sorts autumn summer winter winter tennis of all kinds hockey of all sorts penicilline and succedanea in a word I resume and concurrently simultaneously for reasons unknown to shrink and dwindle in spite of the tennis I resume flying gliding golf over nine and eighteen holes tennis of all sorts in a word for reasons unknown in Feckham Peckham Fulham Clapham namely concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown but time will tell to shrink and dwindle I resume Fulham Clapham in a word the dead loss per head since the death of Bishop Berkeley being to the tune of one inch four ounce per head approximately by and large more or less to the nearest decimal good measure round figures stark naked in the stockinged feet in Connemara in a word for reasons unknown no matter what matter the facts are there and considering what is more much more grave that in the light of the labours lost of Steinweg and Peterman it appears what is more much more grave that in the light the light the light of the labours lost of Steinweg and Peterman that in the plains in the mountains by the seas by the rivers running water running fire the air is the same and than the earth namely the air and then the earth in the great cold the great dark the air and the earth abode of stones in the great cold alas alas in the year of their Lord six hundred and something the air the earth the sea the earth abode of stones in the great deeps the great cold on sea on land and in the air I resume for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis the facts are there but time will tell I resume alas alas on on in short in fine on on abode of stones who can doubt it I resume but not so fast I resume the skull to shrink and waste and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis on on the beard the flames the tears the stones so blue so calm alas alas on on the skull the skull the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the labours abandoned left unfinished graver still abode of stones in a word I resume alas alas abandoned unfinished the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the skull alas the stones Cunard (mêlée, final vociferations) tennis… the stones… so calm… Cunard… unfinished…”