Posted on Aug 6, 2015
Is America now an Oligarchy and no Longer a Democracy? Personal Thoughts?
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“We're here to preserve democracy—not to practice it.”
Captain Frank Ramsay (G. Hackman)
Crimson tide [Motion picture]. (1998). Hollywood Pictures Home Video ;.
Former President Carter touched a nerve with me last week (7/28/15) when he stated to the effect that American is NOT/NO LONGER a Democracy. I won’t reprint his worlds – feel free to find online.
I was astonished to find out that the former President has been preaching this since as early as 2013.
Basile, Frank, (2013, July 19). Jimmy Carter May Actually Be Right This Time. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbasile/2013/07/19/jimmy-carter-may-actually-be-right-this-time/ (Forbes – not a bastion for liberal thought)
I have access to my alma maters online research library and have read scores on the topic of an American Oligarchy over the week. The most interesting and down-to-earth read as from
Gilens, M., & Page, B. (2014). Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens. Polit. Perspectives on Politics, 564-581. Retrieved August 1, 2015. (This was featured in the New Yorker – I won’t deny it).
Giles and Page (Economists and Political Scientists)
“Our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts.”
“Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.”
“In the United States, our findings indicate, the majority does not rule—at least not in the causal sense of actually determining policy outcomes. When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover … even when fairly large majorities of Americans favor policy change, they generally do not get it.”
I tend to agree with all the above. I will no longer profess that America is a functioning Representative Democracy. A Constitutional Republic, certainly.
Thoughts on all this?
Does this effect your motivation to serve? (Me – not one Iota)
Captain Frank Ramsay (G. Hackman)
Crimson tide [Motion picture]. (1998). Hollywood Pictures Home Video ;.
Former President Carter touched a nerve with me last week (7/28/15) when he stated to the effect that American is NOT/NO LONGER a Democracy. I won’t reprint his worlds – feel free to find online.
I was astonished to find out that the former President has been preaching this since as early as 2013.
Basile, Frank, (2013, July 19). Jimmy Carter May Actually Be Right This Time. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbasile/2013/07/19/jimmy-carter-may-actually-be-right-this-time/ (Forbes – not a bastion for liberal thought)
I have access to my alma maters online research library and have read scores on the topic of an American Oligarchy over the week. The most interesting and down-to-earth read as from
Gilens, M., & Page, B. (2014). Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens. Polit. Perspectives on Politics, 564-581. Retrieved August 1, 2015. (This was featured in the New Yorker – I won’t deny it).
Giles and Page (Economists and Political Scientists)
“Our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts.”
“Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.”
“In the United States, our findings indicate, the majority does not rule—at least not in the causal sense of actually determining policy outcomes. When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover … even when fairly large majorities of Americans favor policy change, they generally do not get it.”
I tend to agree with all the above. I will no longer profess that America is a functioning Representative Democracy. A Constitutional Republic, certainly.
Thoughts on all this?
Does this effect your motivation to serve? (Me – not one Iota)
Democracy
Service
Politics
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Technically, we never were a Democracy; we have been a Federal Constitutional Republic. But I see what you're saying. Thomas Jefferson once said that the Constitution should be rewritten/reevaluated every 20 years in order for each generation to be able to add their voice. I'm paraphrasing of course, but the fact remains that when a system is in place for over 200 years, many people are going to know how to manipulate it to their own advantage.
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Cpl (Join to see)
Jefferson also said, "If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty... God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Fortunately, we human beings have the ability to reason and the founding fathers wrote within it's language the method to modify the Constitution should it be needed in Article V which the politicians swore to defend.
We see now that the longer they are in office the more prone they are to corruption. The next step is an Article 5 Convention of the States since the politicians are more worried about their own power than the duty they have to their constituents.
Fortunately, we human beings have the ability to reason and the founding fathers wrote within it's language the method to modify the Constitution should it be needed in Article V which the politicians swore to defend.
We see now that the longer they are in office the more prone they are to corruption. The next step is an Article 5 Convention of the States since the politicians are more worried about their own power than the duty they have to their constituents.
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PO3 Jeremy Herrera
We have slide so far away from what we once were. I am truly worried for our country in the next 2 years.
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SGT (Join to see)
You didn't read or perhaps understand the section under the photo. In short, our votes don't count because those who are elected are pushed/forced by large companies and financial backers.
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2ndLt (Join to see)
That SGT (Join to see) and how districts are drawn out. Gerrymandering is a pretty big problem in this country.
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COL Ted Mc
SSgt Alex Robinson - Staff; From one perspective, controlling the government by how you vote is a "Good Thing".
"Uncle Joe" was of the opinion that controlling the government by how you counted the votes was a "Good Thing".
In reality, controlling the government by controlling who people get to vote for works MUCH better.
You can have the freest, most honest, most open, elections in the world but is 'Candidate A' is going to do " X " if elected AND if 'Candidate B' is going to do " X " if elected, the only people who are going to "win" the election are the people who want " X " done (because there is no way to elect anyone who is NOT going to do " X ").
"Uncle Joe" was of the opinion that controlling the government by how you counted the votes was a "Good Thing".
In reality, controlling the government by controlling who people get to vote for works MUCH better.
You can have the freest, most honest, most open, elections in the world but is 'Candidate A' is going to do " X " if elected AND if 'Candidate B' is going to do " X " if elected, the only people who are going to "win" the election are the people who want " X " done (because there is no way to elect anyone who is NOT going to do " X ").
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MAJ Keira Brennan
LOL. I'd like to think I AM NOT. But I agree, a lot of ppl have lost interest in the process
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