Is America now an Oligarchy and no Longer a Democracy? Personal Thoughts?

2015-08-06T22:46:59-04:00

“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)

Response by SSG James Arlington made Aug 6 at 2015 11:01 PM

2015-08-06T23:01:15-04:00

We are all complacent, brain dead zombies.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 6 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-08-06T23:24:14-04:00

We get the government we deserve by how we vote

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 11:35 PM

2015-08-06T23:35:00-04:00

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.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 7 at 2015 1:12 AM

2015-08-07T01:12:58-04:00

Sure a lot of Rich Old Families that have Hijacked out Democratic Processes and bought our Government and a lot of disinterested and disenfranchised Americans. I have to Concur with President Carter. Hopefully we can turn it around though. What can I say I'm a Romantic a Dreamer.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 7 at 2015 3:40 AM

2015-08-07T03:40:00-04:00

Maybe we can stop being sheeple and take back our country.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 3:47 AM

2015-08-07T03:47:00-04:00

there is no democracy anymore or freedom the radicals in Washington are taking all that away from us I hope and pray that this next presidential election will change our course

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Aug 7 at 2015 3:59 AM

2015-08-07T03:59:36-04:00

Welcome to the age of the Super PAC

Response by PO3 David Fries made Aug 7 at 2015 6:25 AM

2015-08-07T06:25:16-04:00

An Oligarchy, I don't know, but to say that politics and politicians are all about the public instead of greed is a bit of an understatement. Just look at the last two presidential campaigns, it now takes over 1 billion dollars per candidate to make a president? The scariest part is that the majority of the finances come from the Super PAC's. That is the same amount of money as companies in the Fortune 500.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 7 at 2015 6:59 AM

2015-08-07T06:59:27-04:00

Democracy is horrible type of government. There's a reason we don't have one. Try having a vote, just one time for what to have for lunch in an office, and it will act as proof of concept.

In democracies, two sharks & a dolphin decide who is going to be lunch.

As SSgt Private RallyPoint Member said, we have a Constitutional Republic. We have an "implied democracy" in that citizens get a vote, but not all votes are equal. They are "carefully weighted" and "divided" based on geographic location to ensure that like groups of People don't become de facto minorities. The most obvious example of this is the building of the Electoral College in our own Constitution. It was a necessary safeguard FOR the democratic process. It made "more" People's votes count, and still does.

As for being an Oligarchy, there is "some" truth to it, however, and I pause for effect, most citizens are ill informed, and ignorant when it comes to well, frankly most matters. To paraphrase George Carlin. "Think of how stupid the average person is, and remember half of them are dumber are that [sic]"

It's not that a select group of people, or businesses have more power or influence. It's that they have reached a point where they have the "expertise" where they can speak on such matters. No one cares what Joe the Plumber thinks about the economy, because he lacks the credentials, and possibly the understanding & expertise to discuss it on the world stage. There just aren't that many people capable of talking about it. President Carter however had stepped up enough rungs of the ladder to where he had a loud enough voice.

But on the flip side of this, Oligarchy is also not "bad," it's just counter to what we perceive as "good." We just don't see ourselves as one, therefor it must be bad. It's juts being used as a pejorative term.