So... America is an oligarchy now

[Ketora]

Arguably, it always has been. Almost the entirety of the Founding Fathers were independently wealthy and very well-connected. That's why the President of the United States (and originally the Senate) is elected by an Electoral College rather than by direct democracy: because the enlightened elite wanted to ensure it was only the enlightened elite took office.

That is very vulnerable to corruption...

[Havenburgh]

We had the power before, we can do it again. Bernie Sanders is a nice start, if we keep electing people like him. A huge problem is the media. A HUGE PROBLEM

Remind me, how is Bernie Sanders related to the thread?

Furthermore, the vast majority of US media is going berserk over Sanders. They can't get enough of him.

Yea because he is normal in the rest of the Western world, he is seen as a radical here

Now back to the oligarchy

[Ketora]

Is Oligarchy the reason why America is behind of the rest of the first world on so many things, such as education and healthcare?

[Liberty and Linguistics]

To answer the OP, an oligarchy is any country controlled by a powerful and wealthy few. While the U.S. does have some very wealthy individuals, we cannot be considered an oligarchy, seeing as the legislative and executive branches make the majority of national decisions.

The closest thing to oligarchy we have is when special interest groups, whether liberal or conservative, have the ability to funnel millions of dollars towards candidates they prefer.

[Helel ben Shahar]

It always was, and that is what the Constitution intended.

That's kind of... evil

No its not, its just business! (Puffs cigar) The elite's Natural Right if you prefer.

[Havenburgh]

Arguably, it always has been. Almost the entirety of the Founding Fathers were independently wealthy and very well-connected. That's why the President of the United States (and originally the Senate) is elected by an Electoral College rather than by direct democracy: because the enlightened elite wanted to ensure it was only the enlightened elite took office.

That is very vulnerable to corruption...

Well back then only the enlightened elite were really the educated ones. Nowadays, a bigger chunk of us are educated even though most of the politics want to stop this trend and make us just smart enough to work for them but not smart enough to rebel

[Havenburgh]

Is Oligarchy the reason why America is behind of the rest of the first world on so many things, such as education and healthcare?

DING DING DING WE GOT A WINNER!

[Havenburgh]

Is Oligarchy the reason why America is behind of the rest of the first world on so many things, such as education and healthcare?

If you want to see a true democracy, go to Germany, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweeden, Finland. Check them out. Maybe even England... But not by much

[Ketora]

Is Oligarchy the reason why America is behind of the rest of the first world on so many things, such as education and healthcare?

DING DING DING WE GOT A WINNER!

If terrorism was not an issue and people knew about this more, there would be just as many Americans leaving for Europe as there are Mexicans entering America.

[Valaran]

DING DING DING WE GOT A WINNER!

If terrorism was not an issue and people knew about this more, there would be just as many Americans leaving for Europe as there are Mexicans entering America.

That seems a fanciful notion.

[Ketora]

Is Oligarchy the reason why America is behind of the rest of the first world on so many things, such as education and healthcare?

If you want to see a true democracy, go to Germany, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweeden, Finland. Check them out. Maybe even England... But not by much

Eh... What about France and Italy... is something wrong there?

[GreatestBanks]

DING DING DING WE GOT A WINNER!

If terrorism was not an issue and people knew about this more, there would be just as many Americans leaving for Europe as there are Mexicans entering America.

I doubt it lol.
Americans hate Europe. Europe is seen as the anti-freedom, anti-work, lazy fags of the world (by most americans)

[Ketora]

If terrorism was not an issue and people knew about this more, there would be just as many Americans leaving for Europe as there are Mexicans entering America.

That seems a fanciful notion.

yeah, the oligarchs would not ever let that happen

[Valaran]

That seems a fanciful notion.

yeah, the oligarchs would not ever let that happen

Sure, these mysterious oligarchs. I can see their clammy hands of evilness everywhere *nods*

[Ketora]

If terrorism was not an issue and people knew about this more, there would be just as many Americans leaving for Europe as there are Mexicans entering America.

I doubt it lol.
Americans hate Europe. Europe is seen as the anti-freedom, anti-work, lazy fags of the world (by most americans)

That's only because as I said... America is behind the rest of the first world in education, and the media makes us only care about people from this country

[Ketora]

yeah, the oligarchs would not ever let that happen

Sure, these mysterious oligarchs. I can see their clammy hands of evilness everywhere *nods*

You probably can't see them... but they can see you *cough*NSA*cough*

[Havenburgh]

If you want to see a true democracy, go to Germany, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweeden, Finland. Check them out. Maybe even England... But not by much

Eh... What about France and Italy... is something wrong there?

Italy XD and a lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners. Also less and less Mexicans are coming through the border because their own country is getting better as our country is getting worse. Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

[Havenburgh]

If terrorism was not an issue and people knew about this more, there would be just as many Americans leaving for Europe as there are Mexicans entering America.

I doubt it lol.
Americans hate Europe. Europe is seen as the anti-freedom, anti-work, lazy fags of the world (by most americans)

And why is that? Because the media tells you that. Because they dont want you going there. They want you here, where you have less power and can pay you cheaper.

[Ketora]

Eh... What about France and Italy... is something wrong there?

Italy XD and a lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners. Also less and less Mexicans are coming through the border because their own country is getting better as our country is getting worse. Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

Oh yeah, I forgot, Italy went the way of Greece

[Havenburgh]

Italy XD and a lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners. Also less and less Mexicans are coming through the border because their own country is getting better as our country is getting worse. Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

Oh yeah, I forgot, Italy went the way of Greece

Nah greece went full stupid with their neo Nazi's. Italy has not gone full stupid

[Valaran]

lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners.

I don't see how that makes it not a 'true' democracy. You have unusual criteria.

our country is getting worse.

Economically, what is not the case. Socially, it is getting more progressive as well. So on what basis would you say that this is true?

Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

Most of us here will be in our 60s or 70s then, just to put this in context. Half a century is no short amount of time, and Mexico had a much greater start than, say, South Korea.

[Helel ben Shahar]

To answer the OP, an oligarchy is any country controlled by a powerful and wealthy few. While the U.S. does have some very wealthy individuals, we cannot be considered an oligarchy, seeing as the legislative and executive branches make the majority of national decisions.

The closest thing to oligarchy we have is when special interest groups, whether liberal or conservative, have the ability to funnel millions of dollars towards candidates they prefer.

And those Legislators and Admins make up a rather small proportion of the total population. When you think about it, it is delegation of authority because the oligarchs don't have the time or will to mess with petty local decisions.

With regards to special interest groups, there always has been interest groups, (in the past they were called privy councils) its how leaders are chosen. The leader pays them off/promises plunder, and if the interest group don't get paid, the leader gets 'fired'. You can think of them as the Board of Directors with the leader as CEO.

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another."-Voltaire

[Havenburgh]

lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners.

I don't see how that makes it not a 'true' democracy. You have unusual criteria.

our country is getting worse.

Economically, what is not the case. Socially, it is getting more progressive as well. So on what basis would you say that this is true?

Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

Most of us here will be in our 60s or 70s then, just to put this in context. Half a century is no short amount of time, and Mexico had a much greater start than, say, South Korea.

Okay we are no longer talking about true democracies, but immigration. And yes we will be older, but their is a thing called a new generation

[Ketora]

lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners.

I don't see how that makes it not a 'true' democracy. You have unusual criteria.

our country is getting worse.

Economically, what is not the case. Socially, it is getting more progressive as well. So on what basis would you say that this is true?

Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

Most of us here will be in our 60s or 70s then, just to put this in context. Half a century is no short amount of time, and Mexico had a much greater start than, say, South Korea.

good god, he was right about Mexico,
infact... Immigration might start to reverse
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ff-mexican-immigration-20151118-story.html

[Havenburgh]

lot dont enter France because France is not exactly... Welcoming to foreighners.

I don't see how that makes it not a 'true' democracy. You have unusual criteria.

our country is getting worse.

Economically, what is not the case. Socially, it is getting more progressive as well. So on what basis would you say that this is true?

Experts say Mexico is supposed to be on par with European countries in 50 years

Most of us here will be in our 60s or 70s then, just to put this in context. Half a century is no short amount of time, and Mexico had a much greater start than, say, South Korea.

Also "more progressive" yet far behind the rest of the world still. Our "progressive" is far right wing in Europe