Major Study Finds The US Is An Oligarchy

Business Insider ^ | 4/16/2014 | Business Insider

[Dallas59]

The U.S. 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, "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens" (PDF), used extensive policy data collected between 1981 and 2002 to empirically determine the state of the U.S. political system.

[tumblindice]

The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism, by Emmanuel Goldstein

[dead]

The power that our politicians have make them worthy of purchase by corporation, unions and other special interests.

Eliminate the complex tax code, and our politicians become far far less powerful and less worth buying.

The problem is not that the corporations buy influence, it's that the government sells it.

[dead]

That would be Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

That's a Presidentially myopic perspective. The Executive has great influence, but does not write laws.

The Legislative branch does, and congressmen are much cheaper to buy than Presidents.

[dead]

Exactly. Well put.

[caligatrux]

That's a Presidentially myopic perspective. The Executive has great influence, but does not write laws.

The Legislative branch does, and congressmen are much cheaper to buy than Presidents.

Excellent point, I agree. I was just trying to put the time frame of the study in perspective. And, as we all know, this will be used not to point out the corruption of the current regime, but to smear Reagan and blame Bush.

[dead]

You’re right. Like the homeless, these studies dry up and disappear during Democratic Administrations.

[Dexter Morgan]

“But the law is made…by one class of men. Law cannot exist without the sanction and the support of a preponderant force, it must finally place this force in the hands of those who legislate. This inevitable phenomenon…explains the almost universal perversion of law. Instead of being a check upon injustice, it becomes its most invincible instrument.”

Frederic Bastiat, 1850

[subterfuge]

I’ve assumed for years that none of us have any idea who pulls the strings of the shadow government that is currently ruling over us.

[nitzy]

It's funny how there is always more money raised and spent in the race for County Commissioner than the race for Dog Catcher.

The more power the law gives to an office, the more people will try to have influence over the individual who holds the office.

It is human nature. The founders of the Republic were students of human nature and wrote the Constitution to protect against it.

It worked for a while.

[OldNewYork]

Elites pointing out the country is run by elites. Interesting.

[olezip]

The U.S. 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.

This is not "new" news. Michael Savage has been telling his talk radio audience that the US is an Oligarchy for years.

To me the interests of the vast majority of the people of this country have been suffering since Reagan left office, IMO.