6 ms·

I hate to be this cynical but are we sure the US hasn't also become a corrupt oligarchy?

keybored 3y ago
It is but I don’t see the relevance.
krapp 3y ago
It absolutely has, and that isn't even controversial[0-2]. [0]https://www.thenation.com/article/society/cbo-american-wealth-inequality/ https://www.thenation.com/article/society/cbo-american-wealt... [1]https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746 https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746 [2]https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-poli...
reaperducer 3y ago
are we sure the US hasn't also become a corrupt oligarchy? Guess how we can tell you've never actually lived in a corrupt oligarchy, and only read about it on the internet.
- kelnos 3y ago
  I think we're sorta talking about a couple different (but related) things. One "feature" of many corrupt oligarchies that US doesn't have (yet?) is the totalitarian or authoritarian nature of the executive government, which leads to persecution of critics of the system and especially of critics of the oligarchs. While I'm not comfortable with the wealth concentration in the US, at least people aren't getting rounded up and "disappeared" when they talk about it.
  - keybored 3y ago
    Corrupt oligarchy is a bit redundant in this context. America is an effective oligarchy, and that in itself is a corruption since it’s a nominal democracy. And that’s all that it takes to be an (corrupt) oligarchy in this context. As to the grand parent: that’s just whining about relative privation.
  - pphysch 3y ago
    > While I'm not comfortable with the wealth concentration in the US, at least people aren't getting rounded up and "disappeared" when they talk about it. All that reveals is that "talking about it" doesn't threaten the system, which isn't something to be proud of. Instead of destroying dissent, it is hushed, polarized, deflected, diluted. I guess polite totalitarianism is better than impolite totalitarianism? It's certainly more durable.
xotesos 3y ago
[dead]

It is but I don’t see the relevance.

It absolutely has, and that isn't even controversial[0-2]. [0]https://www.thenation.com/article/society/cbo-american-wealth-inequality/ https://www.thenation.com/article/society/cbo-american-wealt... [1]https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746 https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746 [2]https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-poli...

reaperducer 3y ago

are we sure the US hasn't also become a corrupt oligarchy? Guess how we can tell you've never actually lived in a corrupt oligarchy, and only read about it on the internet.

kelnos 3y ago
I think we're sorta talking about a couple different (but related) things. One "feature" of many corrupt oligarchies that US doesn't have (yet?) is the totalitarian or authoritarian nature of the executive government, which leads to persecution of critics of the system and especially of critics of the oligarchs. While I'm not comfortable with the wealth concentration in the US, at least people aren't getting rounded up and "disappeared" when they talk about it.
- keybored 3y ago
  Corrupt oligarchy is a bit redundant in this context. America is an effective oligarchy, and that in itself is a corruption since it’s a nominal democracy. And that’s all that it takes to be an (corrupt) oligarchy in this context. As to the grand parent: that’s just whining about relative privation.
- pphysch 3y ago
  > While I'm not comfortable with the wealth concentration in the US, at least people aren't getting rounded up and "disappeared" when they talk about it. All that reveals is that "talking about it" doesn't threaten the system, which isn't something to be proud of. Instead of destroying dissent, it is hushed, polarized, deflected, diluted. I guess polite totalitarianism is better than impolite totalitarianism? It's certainly more durable.

xotesos 3y ago

[dead]