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 cit

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.