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The US is an oligarchy, study concludes[W:192]

Somerville

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How anyone could call Barack Obama a "socialist" or a "committed Marxist" is simply beyond reason when one looks at the real world

The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded. The report, entitled Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens, used extensive policy data collected from between the years of 1981 and 2002 to empirically determine the state of the US political system.

After sifting through nearly 1,800 US policies enacted in that period and comparing them to the expressed preferences of average Americans (50th percentile of income), affluent Americans (90th percentile) and large special interests groups, researchers concluded that the United States is dominated by its economic elite. The peer-reviewed study, which will be taught at these universities in September, says: "The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organised groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence."

2012 Democracy Index places the US in 21st place

But according to five justices on the Supreme Court bench, there is no political corruption no matter how much money is being spent to influence Congress
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

My day would have sucked without knowing this breaking news. Thank you, thank you.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

How anyone could call Barack Obama a "socialist" or a "committed Marxist" is simply beyond reason when one looks at the real world



2012 Democracy Index places the US in 21st place

But according to five justices on the Supreme Court bench, there is no political corruption no matter how much money is being spent to influence Congress

Obama isn't a socialist by definition (not that Obama wouldn't employ the necessary tactics for socialism if he could), however Obama's social and economic policies outcomes mimics the outcome of socialism....

Crony capitalism is the same as pseudo socialism....

If you want to be vague about it - our economy is certainly a "planned" or "dictated" economy as socialism is. We're anything but true capitalists.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Turns out the USA is an OLIGARCHY. My oh My, who'd a thunk it? Money talks, the one with the gold makes the rules. We don't even get to choose our political candidates until they have the blessing and have kissed the ring of King Dollar, the big contributor. I'd like a grass roots moron much preferred to IVY towered elites we've been subjected to. How the hell do we get a real, decent person in the running? The people that would be good at the job don't want to be involved in the slimy politics required. It's official, the USA is an OLIGARCHY. Explain that to the chilluns'.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

How anyone could call Barack Obama a "socialist" or a "committed Marxist" is simply beyond reason when one looks at the real world

2012 Democracy Index places the US in 21st place

But according to five justices on the Supreme Court bench, there is no political corruption no matter how much money is being spent to influence Congress

First of all thank you for the article. I look forward to reading it.

From the abstract the conclusions seem reasonable and unsurprising. The question seems to me to be, what the best form of democracy is. After answering that, things like the Democracy Index take on another light and the question of political groups and power distributions have a different quality.
So what is the political system for?
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Somerville is 100% correct.

A new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities concluded that the U.S. government represents not the interests of the majority of citizens but those of the rich and powerful. <snip>

Read more: Study concludes: The US is an oligarchy, not a democracy - UPI.com
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

And yet Obama and the Democrats claim over and over and over to be entirely the opposite of an oligarchy.

At least conservatives preach that you have to pull up your bootstraps and do it yourself. That's far more truthful than what the Dems offer.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

People elect the politicians. The politicians make the decisions. Thus we have a representative democracy. That those politicians CHOOSE to make decisions in part based on power connections does not change the fundamental nature of the political system in the US. Change only requires individuals voting in someone else. An actual oligarchy would have no elections, no judicial system, no checks and balances.

So this is just more blame avoidance.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

What's funny in a sad kind of way is the fact that seven of the top 10 nations on the Democracy Index have monarchs. They have little power but they provide a unifying symbol for the citizens of those nations. Of course it took a few years from the time of the American Revolution for the monarchs to lose all their power but even at the time of the Revolution, George III had little real power in England.
 
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Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

It is what conservatives "preach" but that is nothing more than the noise machine spewing out propaganda so the gullible will vote against their own interests. You know, like some of the rural counties in the South where many are on food stamps or other "welfare" programs yet they continue to vote for Republicans who in Congress try to put a stop to such "wasteful programs" that see “scammers, lottery winners, gamblers and others who may be able to work” taking advantage. Food stamp cut hit White and Republican Ky. county harder than most

That's the biggest lie of all... that welfare programs are in their best interest. Welfare programs are supposed to be short term and for those who need that time to get back on their feet (ie., a job, saving, a home or apt., etc.) Welfare programs are not for long term - the sheer number of welfare programs shows these are not short term but long term oppressive investments made by progressive politicians who need a voting base. They are the ones who use your argument "...that is nothing more than the noise machine spewing out propaganda so the gullible will vote against their own interests." The best interest is a job, the best interest is owning a home, acquiring assets, getting a better education, providing for one's family or self and not relying on government cheese and BS ideologues arguing dependency on government cheese is their best option.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Thanks Ockham for copying my words, I had accidentally deleted them

It is what conservatives "preach" but that is nothing more than the noise machine spewing out propaganda so the gullible will vote against their own interests. You know, like some of the rural counties in the South where many are on food stamps or other "welfare" programs yet they continue to vote for Republicans who in Congress try to put a stop to such "wasteful programs" that see “scammers, lottery winners, gamblers and others who may be able to work” taking advantage. Food stamp cut hit White and Republican Ky. county harder than most.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

How anyone could call Barack Obama a "socialist" or a "committed Marxist" is simply beyond reason when one looks at the real world



2012 Democracy Index places the US in 21st place

But according to five justices on the Supreme Court bench, there is no political corruption no matter how much money is being spent to influence Congress

If someone is surprised by this, they haven't be been paying attention. Here are two names that should be familiar...and they are in power everywhere. Bush - Clinton. Ok, how about Kennedy?

Our government has gone silly.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

If someone is surprised by this, they haven't be been paying attention. Here are two names that should be familiar...and they are in power everywhere. Bush - Clinton. Ok, how about Kennedy?

Our government has gone silly.

Im not surprised that citizens like to blame ANYONE ELSE but themselves for they state of our government. And then say we need MORE govt to fix it.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

How anyone could call Barack Obama a "socialist" or a "committed Marxist" is simply beyond reason when one looks at the real world



2012 Democracy Index places the US in 21st place

But according to five justices on the Supreme Court bench, there is no political corruption no matter how much money is being spent to influence Congress

An Oligarchy is the most common structure of a socialist/marxist society. So being an oligarchy hardly disproves him also being a socialist. Also, the ability for the US to become a corporatist (corporate socialist) society was caused by the damage done by traitor-rats socialist policies.

Also, your study was conducted by two extremely left leaning universities. Again, socialist who are trying to deny that their favored political party is socialist.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

An Oligarchy is the most common structure of a socialist/marxist society. So being an oligarchy hardly disproves him also being a socialist. Also, the ability for the US to become a corporatist (corporate socialist) society was caused by the damage done by traitor-rats socialist policies.

Also, your study was conducted by two extremely left leaning universities. Again, socialist who are trying to deny that their favored political party is socialist.

It it is an oligarchy it is not a "socialist/marxist society" by commonly understood definition. Your belief that the two are the same simply illustrates a specific political bias unsupported by anything more than assertions and ignorance of history.

Cute - "traitor-rats"

For some reason, I seem to remember that true socialist policies wouldn't allow corporations to operate with minimal regulatory standards. Our present situation is a direct result of misguided free market philosophy, the type of thinking which brought about the real estate crash, the thought patterns which allowed residences and a school to be built next to a fertiliser plant in Texas that wasn't inspected for years to check compliance to even minimal regulations and most damaging to society and the economy, an attitude that has allowed those in the financial industry to escape any penalties for their complicity in bringing down the economy.

Yeah, those "extremely left leaning universities" that for some reason have a large number of alumni participating in the institutions that have done so much damage to the economy with almost zero consequences.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

This confirms my belief that researchers love to prove what is already obvious.

Wake up and smell the hypocrisy, America.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

An Oligarchy is the most common structure of a socialist/marxist society. So being an oligarchy hardly disproves him also being a socialist. Also, the ability for the US to become a corporatist (corporate socialist) society was caused by the damage done by traitor-rats socialist policies.

Also, your study was conducted by two extremely left leaning universities. Again, socialist who are trying to deny that their favored political party is socialist.

Then why is it that proud socialists, those who identify with the socialist party don't view obama as one of their own. It's only his opponents who group him into that party.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

How anyone could call Barack Obama a "socialist" or a "committed Marxist" is simply beyond reason when one looks at the real world



2012 Democracy Index places the US in 21st place

But according to five justices on the Supreme Court bench, there is no political corruption no matter how much money is being spent to influence Congress

Opinions vary.

It is a little cute when people state opinion as emprical fact but it is still opinion.

It just so happens I agree with this opinion and it is why we need to disband and abolish most of the government.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Opinions vary.

It is a little cute when people state opinion as emprical fact but it is still opinion.

It just so happens I agree with this opinion and it is why we need to disband and abolish most of the government.


and I don't think those who call themselves "Libertarian" truly understand the consequences inherent in their beliefs.

John Rogers > Quotes > Quotable Quote
“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged . One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."

[Kung Fu Monkey -- Ephemera, blog post, March 19, 2009]”
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Somerville is 100% correct.

A new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities concluded that the U.S. government represents not the interests of the majority of citizens but those of the rich and powerful. <snip>

Read more: Study concludes: The US is an oligarchy, not a democracy - UPI.com
The article states,
The 42-page study analyzes U.S. politics through the framework of four major theoretical traditions -- Majoritarian Electoral Democracy, Economic Elite Domination, Majoritarian Pluralism and Biased Pluralism -- concluding that U.S. political policies rarely align with the majority of citizens
.Obamacare would be an example of that, as well as bailouts of corporations. The majority of the public was against all of this but it didn't matter.

The rich will get richer and the poor will get food stamps, but these are the policies the electorate appeared to want. And of course the middle class will shrink as government grows, so all of this was quite predictable. As the people complain about this 'oligarchy' they will demand that the government should do something about it!
 
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Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

The article states, .Obamacare would be an example of that, as well as bailouts of corporations. The majority of the public was against all of this but it didn't matter.

The rich will get richer and the poor will get food stamps, but these are the policies the electorate appeared to want. And of course the middle class will shrink as government grows, so all of this was quite predictable. As the people complain about this 'oligarchy' they will demand that the government should do something about it!

If the rich have their way, the poor not only will no longer get food stamps, they may not even be able to feed themselves when working a 40 hr job. Of course the middle class has shrunk as union jobs have disappeared and the economic philosophy of the "free market" since 1980 has created the most unequal society in American history. Not sure why an increasing government would shrink the middle class as we are constantly told about how much money those government slackers receive for doing nothing. Then there is the ever so small matter that government jobs numbers have decreased during the past five years.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Then why is it that proud socialists, those who identify with the socialist party don't view obama as one of their own. It's only his opponents who group him into that party.

Because most self proclaimed socialist are incredibly stupid to start with and most of them use a very narrow definition of socialism. If you stick around long enough, you will see them declare other socialist are not socialist because they support a slightly different form of stupidity. But unlike most of the Liberals and Progressives, at least they are not afraid to admit their beliefs are socialism.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Because most self proclaimed socialist are incredibly stupid to start with and most of them use a very narrow definition of socialism. If you stick around long enough, you will see them declare other socialist are not socialist because they support a slightly different form of stupidity. But unlike most of the Liberals and Progressives, at least they are not afraid to admit their beliefs are socialism.

I don't know, I think the real issue here is that Republican's use "Socialism" as a scare tactic to get people riled up. Obama is not even the most liberal president we've had.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

Then why is it that proud socialists, those who identify with the socialist party don't view obama as one of their own. It's only his opponents who group him into that party.

Because he doesn't support or promote socialist ideas. He promotes pretty moderate ideas. That's why we have a healthcare exchange instead of a national single-payer program. The right wing wants to call him a socialist in an attempt to discredit even his moderate views and swing the country towards extreme right wing policies.

If the rich have their way, the poor not only will no longer get food stamps, they may not even be able to feed themselves when working a 40 hr job. Of course the middle class has shrunk as union jobs have disappeared and the economic philosophy of the "free market" since 1980 has created the most unequal society in American history. Not sure why an increasing government would shrink the middle class as we are constantly told about how much money those government slackers receive for doing nothing. Then there is the ever so small matter that government jobs numbers have decreased during the past five years.

A 40 hour job on minimum wage is already not enough to feed oneself. Or rather, it isn't enough to pay one's rent.
 
Re: The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

who are the oligarch's?
 
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