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> The government is a democracy... No, it isn't, and this isn't some "it's a reeeeepublic" rant, either. When half the population couldn't legally vote for mo
by actually_a_dog 4y ago
> The government is a democracy...
No, it isn't, and this isn't some "it's a reeeeepublic" rant, either. When half the population couldn't legally vote for most of the country's history, that's not very democratic. "Oligarchy" is a better fit, but apparently we only reserve that for countries we don't like. Average individuals working average jobs and making average incomes get next to no say in anything that happens at a national level, and I would be surprised if it were any better at the state level.
https://act.represent.us/sign/usa-oligarchy-research-explained https://act.represent.us/sign/usa-oligarchy-research-explain...
- dougmwne 4y agoThat point I was trying to make is that if the economy were bad enough, people would vote out the incumbent government in droves. The vote is a safety value that prevents riots and armed revolution. Autocracies are brittle to changing public perception and can go the way of the guillotine.
- actually_a_dog 4y agoThe phrase "bad enough" is doing an awful lot of work here. Besides, whatever party is in charge, the other party is always nearly as bad or worse. First past the post, the Electoral College, and campaign finance law all but ensure that your only two choices are the right wing neoliberal party or the ultra right wing neoliberal party.