[Nachum]

Bread and circuses...

[Tzimisce]

And my study proves that Princeton is an elitist organization that sits around eating too much of its own excrement.

How does one “prove” political theory?

[HangnJudge]

I read this yesterday
The premise, unfortunately, struck me as
All to likely to be true

It explains many otherwise unconnected facts

I saved the PDF for later perusal

[SandRat]

[Salvavida]

Just wait until the next time Americans have to stand up the government while under arms.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

ONE Oligarchy, two wings.

[Alas Babylon!]

Business interests, business groups, businesses, et cetera, et cetera.

Two extremely large players always seemed to be left out: Public sector unions and environmental groups.

They run much of the country’s policies.

[crz]

Took the dumb Effers how long to come to this conclusion?

[Psalm 144]

It is presently more of a plutocracy, trending towards oligarchy. I miss the opportunity part from my youth.

[indthkr]

US Oligarchy bump for later....

[Billthedrill]

This particular oligarchy's hold on power isn't like the one ruling, say, Rome. In fact, its hold is rather tenuous because like Rome, it has to pay lip service to the Republic and unlike Rome, the Little People are armed, pissed off, and bread and circuses can only take you so far. If it is to survive, this particular oligarchy needs to go back under cover, and there are no signs whatever that it realizes that fact or intends to do anything other than up the political ante. Hubris, I suppose, or "who the gods wish to destroy they first make mad".

A sufficient thrashing in November may convince its wiser members that a loose rein is the prudent way to go. The Constitution affords us that much slack before the bullets have to start flying - I am repeatedly stunned by how many chances that storied document gives us to save us from our own folly. They aren't limitless, though. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government... Don't think that can't happen. Don't think it won't.

[Bernard Marx]

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.

I think the study skipped a few essentials, like the overpowering political oligarchs. They accept bribes from any source, foreign or domestic, and actively work against the interests of the people who elected them while growing rich and elitist. Harry Reid would be an outstanding example. There are many others, sadly some from the Republican side.

[Amagi]

[JimRed]

One way to cure that is a two part solution: Term limits plus campaign donation reform. No politician should ever know who donated to their campaign; that way they can’t sell influence. But the public is free to support whoever they believe will act in their best interest. Keep it anonymous.