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US-American "moguls" don't get killed as often as their Russian counterparts. And even Russia is careful about being too obvious, lest the totalitarian nature o

US-American "moguls" don't get killed as often as their Russian counterparts. And even Russia is careful about being too obvious, lest the totalitarian nature of the state becomes common knowledge outside (or beware even inside) Russia...

stcredzero 12y ago
Is the US a semi-oligarchy wrapped up in the trappings of a republic?
- dragonwriter 12y ago
  "Republic" and "Oligarchy" aren't actually opposed concepts. Its possible to be both at once, without "semi" and "trappings". Now, if you mean "representative democracy" when you said "republic", you'd have a more appropriate question.
- bayesianhorse 12y ago
  I think it is dangerous to start such a discussion with the diagnosis of "semi-oligarchy". The first thing you should look at is that, "integrated" over all citizens (and even residents and "illegal aliens"), you won't find a country that offers much more freedom and more opportunity. You can argue if some European countries beat the US in some of these categories, but none of them are as much better than the US, than the US is better compared to Russia or China. The US political system is designed to be rigid against change. Which is mostly a good thing, until, of course, it isn't. But this rigidity is a big strength, and accounts for much of the trust of the world economy in the US government(s). How to choose leaders and administrators is a tough problem, and I don't have a lot of trust in people who don't actually participate in politics but believe they have a way of choosing leaders and policies that is superior to all the proven ways.
  - stcredzero 12y ago
    you won't find a country that offers much more freedom and more opportunity Quite true. I'm not saying the US is bad. I'm just pointing out that it's not some kind of anointed perfection.
BugBrother 12y ago
Re Russia and democracy -- isn't it enough to just note that Putin will never lose an election...? Equally damning is the media control.

stcredzero 12y ago

Is the US a semi-oligarchy wrapped up in the trappings of a republic?

dragonwriter 12y ago
"Republic" and "Oligarchy" aren't actually opposed concepts. Its possible to be both at once, without "semi" and "trappings". Now, if you mean "representative democracy" when you said "republic", you'd have a more appropriate question.
bayesianhorse 12y ago
I think it is dangerous to start such a discussion with the diagnosis of "semi-oligarchy". The first thing you should look at is that, "integrated" over all citizens (and even residents and "illegal aliens"), you won't find a country that offers much more freedom and more opportunity. You can argue if some European countries beat the US in some of these categories, but none of them are as much better than the US, than the US is better compared to Russia or China. The US political system is designed to be rigid against change. Which is mostly a good thing, until, of course, it isn't. But this rigidity is a big strength, and accounts for much of the trust of the world economy in the US government(s). How to choose leaders and administrators is a tough problem, and I don't have a lot of trust in people who don't actually participate in politics but believe they have a way of choosing leaders and policies that is superior to all the proven ways.
- stcredzero 12y ago
  you won't find a country that offers much more freedom and more opportunity Quite true. I'm not saying the US is bad. I'm just pointing out that it's not some kind of anointed perfection.

BugBrother 12y ago

Re Russia and democracy -- isn't it enough to just note that Putin will never lose an election...? Equally damning is the media control.