Science determines the US is not a democracy

[Enkrypter]

Study finds US is an oligarchy, not a Democracy:


A Princeton University and Northwestern University study conclude that the US is an oligarchy, not a democracy.


https://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/04/14

The clear finding is that the U.S. is an oligarchy, no democratic country, at all. American democracy is a sham, no matter how much it's pumped by the oligarchs who run the country (and who control the nation's "news" media). The U.S., in other words, is basically similar to Russia or most other dubious "electoral" "democratic" countries. We weren't formerly, but we clearly are now. Today, after this exhaustive analysis of the data, “the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy.” That's it, in a nutshell.

Thought this was interesting... Now discuss with impunity.

Science is always a little late to the party trying to prove the obvious. Better late than never, I suppose.

 

[smokingman]

We where never designed to be a democracy.We where a republic.

That said I think it is common knowledge we are living in a oligarchy/corporatocracy.Very little is left of our republic form of government.

 

[pudly]

We where never designed to be a democracy.We where a republic.

So what was really scientifically determined was that university researchers are clueless about the Constitution and what our system of government is supposed to be.

 

[MisterChester]

 

[Hornett]

So what was really scientifically determined was that university researchers are clueless about the Constitution and what our system of government is supposed to be.

Exactly!
But while that is true, the findings are difficult to dispute.
At least they know what an Oligarchy is.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

In other news, researchers release headline grabbing study and call it 'science'. Media, not known for worrying overly much about vetting facts, latches on eagerly and reports it internationally. Expect this trend to continue until a child falls into a well or a puppy does something really cute.

 

[tetsujin79]

Well, it's a good thing our oligarchs are benevolent and well-meaning, unlike their analogues in Russia?

 

[femurphy77]

I wonder how much this bit of "scientific exploration" cost. Talk about a "duh" moment!

 

[jon5212]

It took scientists to figure this out?

 

[mrjarrell]

Many of us have been saying this for years now. It took these guys and grant money to see the obvious?

 

[level.eleven]

Citizens United and McCutcheon pretty much sealed the deal on an plutocracy/corporate/oligarchy government.

 

[IndyDave1776]

Citizens United and McCutcheon pretty much sealed the deal on an plutocracy/corporate/oligarchy government.

Not really. It was already happening. These simply made it competitive between two different groups of oligarchs rather than letting the leftist group have a monopoly.

 

[MisterChester]

Not really. It was already happening. These simply made it competitive between two different groups of oligarchs rather than letting the leftist group have a monopoly.

It's a monopoly no matter who's giving the dough.

 

[poptab]

What is the motive to the secret ballot? This, and only this: Like other confederates in crime, those who use it are not friends, but enemies; and they are afraid to be known, and to have their individual doings known, even to each other. They can contrive to bring about a sufficient understanding to enable them to act in concert against other persons; but beyond this they have no confidence, and no friendship, among themselves. In fact, they are engaged quite as much in schemes for plundering each other, as in plundering those who are not of them. And it is perfectly well understood among them that the strongest party among them will, in certain contingencies, murder each other by the hundreds of thousands (as they lately did do) to accomplish their purposes against each other. Hence they dare not be known, and have their individual doings known, even to each other. And this is avowedly the only reason for the ballot: for a secret government; a government by secret bands of robbers and murderers. And we are insane enough to call this liberty! To be a member of this secret band of robbers and murderers is esteemed a privilege and an honor! Without this privilege, a man is considered a slave; but with it a free man! With it he is considered a free man, because he has the same power to secretly (by secret ballot) procure the robbery, enslavement, and murder of another man, and that other man has to procure his robbery, enslavement, and murder. And this they call equal rights!


If any number of men, many or few, claim the right to govern the people of this country, let them make and sign an open compact with each other to do so. Let them thus make themselves individually known to those whom they propose to govern. And let them thus openly take the legitimate responsibility of their acts. How many of those who now support the Constitution, will ever do this? How many will ever dare openly proclaim their right to govern? or take the legitimate responsibility of their acts? Not one!

 

[Onionsanddragons]

poptab: obviously no one who really supports the constitution would claim a right to govern, because it clearly isn't one. It would be meant as a responsibility; something our plutocrats haven't had a sense of for quite some time.

And on the earlier comment about our country being established as a republic, meaning that is not a democracy: that is just not understanding the variation in democracies. A republic is a representative form of democracy. We simply don't seem to have the ability or knowledge or caring as a society anymore to exercise the will to stop the jackasses. Or, we may have let that situation go on so long that the ship has sailed, and the system has been rigged so heavily that even a strong mobilization would not show results. The secret ballot poptab rails against definitely doesn't help this situation, as it makes elections essentially unaccountable given the amount of money and influence that could be thrown into breaking them.

 

[jwh20]

Sadly I'm sure that our tax dollars funded those studies of the obvious. I learned long ago in high school civics class that the USA is a "Constitutional Republic" and not a "Democracy". In fact we discussed by being a true democracy is almost never a good thing. It amounts to "mob rule" where those who are in the minority get trampled by the majority.

One of the great things about our system, the way the founders intended it was that the minority would have a say and would be protected by the difficult to change Constitution and a court system that would interpret things against that standard.

 

[jamil]

Sadly I'm sure that our tax dollars funded those studies of the obvious. I learned long ago in high school civics class that the USA is a "Constitutional Republic" and not a "Democracy". In fact we discussed by being a true democracy is almost never a good thing. It amounts to "mob rule" where those who are in the minority get trampled by the majority.

One of the great things about our system, the way the founders intended it was that the minority would have a say and would be protected by the difficult to change Constitution and a court system that would interpret things against that standard.

It must have been long ago. They don't teach that anymore.

 

[indiucky]

Expect this trend to continue until a child falls into a well or a puppy does something really cute.

Or a Khardashian makes another porn tape...Let's keep it real please.

 

[jwh20]

It must have been long ago. They don't teach that anymore.

Yes it was. Circa 1973... Sadly there are many things they don't teach anymore. Too much "dumbing down" due to the "No Child Gets Ahead" act. Common Core is more of the same nonsense. It's common all right, more like LOWEST COMMON CORE! The entire idea is to lower the bar so that everyone can pass and feel good about themselves.

 

[Bennettjh]

So what was really scientifically determined was that university researchers are clueless about the Constitution and what our system of government is supposed to be.