US Study: The US Is Not A Democracy But An Oligarchy

[PEB]

In the world of really no way department! Princeton and Northwestern Universities have finished a study where they determined the obvious that the rich rule a vast majority of policy decisions. The study looked at changes between 1981 to 2002 and find that effectively the rich rule the decision making. This study compliments the results from another study done by University of California and CREDO Action where the rich have far greater access to policy makers. The evidence is piling up to back what many on left has been saying for years that America is becoming a plutocracy.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2014/04/15/study-us-is-an-oligarchy-not-democracy/

 

[7437]

no shit

 

[FascistDictator]

so what can I, a pissed off nobody, do about it?

Spoiler

yes i'm srs

 

[ndwolfwood]

That's corporate oligarchy to you, sir.

 

[SleepyBoy]

This is obvious. Not only are taxes redistributed and laws are made to financially benefit the super rich, the elite of this country are literally above the law. They can rape their own kids, lie to congress, engage in billions of fraud, commit treason and murder, and they will never have to worry about spending a second in prison.

I'm surprised they haven't change the constitution yet to allow nobility so they can make all of us bow down and call them "ma'Lord"

It's a two tiered system, and it disgust me.

oh and in before "it's ok, the average poor person has cable and a cell phone, so it's all fair n square"

 

[Jack V Savage]

And yet when you read the Paulites here, you'd think that the biggest problem that America is facing is that the gov't is unfair to the rich and does too much to help the poor and middle class.

 

[Thames]

According to Global Democracy Index the U.S rank 15th in terms of democracy. So it's not that bad.

Spoiler

http://democracyranking.org/?page_id=738#prettyPhoto

I haven't read the report. I don't know how they measure this stuff exactly. But it's interesting.
The weird thing is that lobbying is very regulated in the U.S compared to most european countries. There's barely any regulation in Denmark for example. Yet somehow not an issue here.

 

[DoUEvenLiftBro]

Can someone mention solutions? I always hear complaints, but I never hear ideas and solutions.

 

[SleepyBoy]

I agree, but on the flip side, the reason why we have an Oligarchy is because there is a refusal to try or jail any of the Super Elite in the country, that get to oligarchy status often by illegal ways. Because no one ever calls them out on their illegal activities, they can gain unfair advantages and consolidate even more wealth, which causes the snow ball effect. They get worshiped by the bought off media and talking heads, that are too impressed with their education and pedigree to notice that much of the Super Elite are downright criminals, market manipulators, and benefit the most from our redistribution of wealth.

The system needs to be fixed first and foremost but you can't fully address the oligarchy system without addressing the oligarchs

 

[ruthless robert]

In the world of really no way department! Princeton and Northwestern Universities have finished a study where they determined the obvious that the rich rule a vast majority of policy decisions. The study looked at changes between 1981 to 2002 and find that effectively the rich rule the decision making. This study compliments the results from another study done by University of California and CREDO Action where the rich have far greater access to policy makers. The evidence is piling up to back what many on left has been saying for years that America is becoming a plutocracy.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2014/04/15/study-us-is-an-oligarchy-not-democracy/

can we stop with the "people on the right are evil and the people on the left have been saying so for years" crap.....

NEWSFLASH, greed and corruption is how the elites have had influence on governments since the beginning of time......

Who'd like to bet that the "rich left leaning people" have the most influence on left leaning places like Europe, etc. etc.

Are you saying that the people on the left are jealous and wish they had more influence and leverage when it comes to policy making???

DON'T BE JEALOUS HOMIE!!!


.

 

[SammyPops]

Can someone mention solutions? I always hear complaints, but I never hear ideas and solutions.

that's the real joke There are none, and its just going to get worse.

The super rich will exert more and more control over time, until the illusion of democracy is totally gone.

the world will be divided into the top .1% and slaves in a 100+ years.

 

[LucasWithLidOff]

Can someone mention solutions? I always hear complaints, but I never hear ideas and solutions.

Clearly the solution is to drop out of school and spend your days smoking weed and listening to rap music, while intermittently browsing prison planet. Don't worry about earning your keep because Obama will provide food stamps and a cell phone for you.

 

[LucasWithLidOff]

that's the real joke There are none, and its just going to get worse.

The super rich will exert more and more control over time, until the illusion of democracy is totally gone.

the world will be divided into the top .1% and slaves in a 100+ years.

Awesome, then maybe we will be able to surpass Rome as the GOAT civilization.

 

[SammyPops]

Awesome, then maybe we will be able to surpass Rome as the GOAT civilization.

lol at least they knew where they stood.

we've been fooled

 

[ruthless robert]

Can someone mention solutions? I always hear complaints, but I never hear ideas and solutions.

here a solution, how about a revolution? how about a president like Ron Paul or at least give him a fair shake when it comes to media coverage. the media bias is so strong that they dont even try and hide it anymore.

the left want MORE GOVERNMENT but the problem here is all it will do is be back by rich left wingers. rather you have right wing policy or left wing policy either way it's going to be corrupt until you take the power away from the government and create what we used to have, what made our nation the best on the planet, an actual FREE NATION with a government that didn't intervene with our lives.

if you take power away from government then there is nothing that rich companies and manipulate and corrupt. let the people decide. but the left hate that idea because they dont think people have the ability to think beyond what the government tells them they should think.

.

 

[MuyThaiTom]

Clearly the solution is to drop out of school and spend your days smoking weed and listening to rap music, while intermittently browsing prison planet. Don't worry about earning your keep because Obama will provide food stamps and a cell phone for you.

What are the differences in requirements for welfare or food stamps between the Obama and Bush administrations?

 

[ABACA]

Can someone mention solutions? I always hear complaints, but I never hear ideas and solutions.

 

[TheBox]

What are the differences in requirements for welfare or food stamps between the Obama and Bush administrations?

They changed the policy completely. When Bush was in office, you had to be a full-time worker to get food stamps and all the food stamps were for healthy staples. Now you just have to sign a contract stating that you will only vote for Democrats for the rest of your life under penalty of death and the food stamps only buy lobster, cavier, and new rims for your car.

 

[MuyThaiTom]

They changed the policy completely. When Bush was in office, you had to be a full-time worker to get food stamps and all the food stamps were for healthy staples. Now you just have to sign a contract stating that you will only vote for Democrats for the rest of your life under penalty of death and the food stamps only buy lobster, cavier, and new rims for your car.

Seems factually accurate.

 

[Bay Area]

Can someone mention solutions? I always hear complaints, but I never hear ideas and solutions.

You can write your congressman