Is our Republic a Democracy or an Oligarchy?

2014-04-15T15:36:49-04:00

I just read this article and linked study:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/04/14

It's a liberal site but I was less interested in their article on the subject than the actual paper itself. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree?

Oligarchy: A form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people.

US Is an Oligarchy Not a Democracy, says Scientific Study

In America, money talks... and democracy dies under its crushing weight. (Photo: Shutterstock)A study, to appear in the Fall 2014 issue of the academic journal Perspectives on Politics, finds that the...

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Apr 15 at 2014 3:43 PM

2014-04-15T15:43:18-04:00

LOL, been an Oligarchy since Clinton at least. There is an argument that Reagan paved the way with deregulation and union busting. The amount of money that went to the top 1% as a result of the Afghan and Iraq wars set the modern tempo. The Bank Bailouts were the coup de grace.

Not impossible to fix, it was done before following WW II. FDRs New Deal... But we really need more than band-aids that shore up appearances.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Apr 15 at 2014 3:53 PM

2014-04-15T15:53:05-04:00

Neither. It's more so a Plutocracy.

“Oligarchy” is when the government is controlled by a small group; “plutocracy” is when the government is controlled by the wealthy.

I think that all plutocrats are oligarchs but not all oligarchs are plutocrats.

If you look at the major donors in politics, of the top 20 only 2 are right leaning.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 15 at 2014 7:28 PM

2014-04-15T19:28:52-04:00

I would hope a Democracy but one sure has to wonder anymore with the Money congregated at the top with a small group of Wealthy Elites and Corporations. Money sure does talk. Would be nice to see a New Teddy R around to reverse that trend.