Quote:
Originally Posted by White Fox
The US has a pluralistic system of government, where interest groups represent the interests of the people directly to the legislators. Under the iron law of oligarchy, the leaders and organizers of these interest groups have the most influence, simply because they are the most active in petitioning the government. This system helps to ensure that no overbearing absolute majority comes to power that will put its interest above the rights of the people. It is one of the functioning components of democracy, it is not and oligarchy, which is rule by a pre-selected group. If you are defining democracy as a system where everybody just comes together to vote on the issues, then let me remind you that that leads to dictatorship, as the ones who are best able to manipulate public emotions (demagogues) come to power (think "Hitler").
I'm also surprised that anyone on the left would criticize the US for being morally corrupt.
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well done White fox - I see that the US propaganda system is working very well and has managed to install special hearing filters into most of its citizens' ears.
I suggest that you worte to any Politics department in any of the reputable Universities in the USa and send them your deluded definition of what a democracy is. And also ask then what TERM best describes the Political system in the USA today.
And the interest groups you highlight are not some sort of grass roots democratic movement - they represent private corporations, for example:
the health insurance companies (there are more health insurance company spin doctors than there are members of congress)
the gun lobbies
right wing religious freaks
the fossil fuel and nuclear energy spin doctors
AND least but not least - the private corporations that construct all those weapons that the USA needs o sell and dump onto everyone in the world.
Dont forget the Jewish lobby groups (less than 1% of Americans are Jewish and yet their influence in Washington is disproportionate). Why are Israeli nationsla the ONLY american citizens that can have DUAL citizenship in the USA? Why Is Israel the biggest receiver of US foreign aid today?
Lobby and interest groups? Yes we all know who they represent dont we - AND its not the average American otherwise ALL americans would have free health cover and free educations systems - AND THEIR VOTES WOULDNT BE DISCOUNTED IN FLORIDA BECAUSE OF CONNECTIONS IN THE SUPREME COURT BY A TEXAN GOVERNOR - WHO WILL REMAIN NAMELESS!
Noone in Academia describes the USA as a democracy - its a Plutocratic Oligarchy at best!
Just accept it - its the first step needed for the USA to change in a positve way