What Best describes the United States?

Goshin said:

In practice we're not far from an Oligarchy, in that the real movers-and-shakers are an elite club that's hard to get into, and a plutocracy where those with the money dominate the political scene.

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This be the truth. We're closing in on a true aristocracy.

Dezaad said:

In effect, we have ignorantly acquiesced to an oligarchy. But we do retain the power to dislodge it, through the mechanism of the legal structure of our democratic republic.

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The reason that you're wrong is in my last post. The candidates are approved before anyone votes. You can't significantly change anything through the ballot box in national elections.

Lachean said:

Forbes

Where did you get your claim?

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I had posted:
Originally Posted by OhIsee.Then
Most new traceable income is going to people that haven’t inherited it. The old wealth is much less visible and the income it generates is less visible too. So where did you get your information?

Lachean sent me to Forbes. Thanks. I’ll use it as part of my answer. Forbes sent me to this information:

In 1957 Fortune magazine developed a list of the seventy-six wealthiest Americans
The man with the greatest impact on the list was arguably Andrew W. Mellon, who had been dead for 20 years: the second category, covering the second to eighth richest individuals, included his son, daughter, niece and nephew. The list also included seven members of the Rockefeller family, five members of the Ford family, four members of the Du Pont family (and a non-family DuPont executive), and four General Motors executives.
Here are more: Mrs. Mellon Bruce (inherited), Paul Mellon (inherited), Richard King Mellon (inherited), John D. Rockefeller Jr. (inherited), Mrs. Frederick Guest formerly Amy Phipps (inherited), Irénée du Pont (inherited), William du Pont, Jr. (inherited), Doris Duke (inherited), Mrs. Alfred I. du Pont (inherited), Mrs. Edsel Ford (inherited), Amory Houghton (inherited)

And, some of my 'claims' come from my own observations. But here are a couple observations. We are not what I'd call wealthy, but we have our money managed and could have it invested out of the country. Or, if we inherited a bunch like the above the earnings would disappear, also the principle. One of many neat ways money has and is moved offshore where it is no longer traceable is with the sale of the company logo to a foreign company. The foreign company can be wholly owned by the founders of the original company. The foreign company charges for the use of the logo and the only thing that shows up here is an obfuscating entry in the books.

Goshin said:

In practice we're not far from an Oligarchy, in that the real movers-and-shakers are an elite club that's hard to get into, and a plutocracy where those with the money dominate the political scene.

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For once, we're in near total agreement.

As John Dewey observed; 'Politics is the shadow cast on society by big business.'

Redress said:

The baddest mothu****er on the block. We kick ass and take names. We got the hottest babes, the hunkiest dudes, and the most kick ass music. Every one wants to be like us.

America, **** yeah!

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Please show this side of you more often in your post! Love this

Only our desire to return this Nation to the Standards, Moral Values, and Standing in the World is the only thing that keeps us from the greatness our Founders set up for us to achieve.

We have to stop allowing our Standards, Moral Values, and Standing in the World to be eroded away in the name of phony tolerance by people with none of the qualities I have mentioned.

We need to stand our ground and fight for what we know is right and good.

Councilman said:

Only our desire to return this Nation to the Standards, Moral Values, and Standing in the World is the only thing that keeps us from the greatness our Founders set up for us to achieve.

We have to stop allowing our Standards, Moral Values, and Standing in the World to be eroded away in the name of phony tolerance by people with none of the qualities I have mentioned.

We need to stand our ground and fight for what we know is right and good.

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you are saying that our nation would be greater if only its citizens were less tolerant

please tell me that was sarcasm you failed to properly identify