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  1. TopTop #1
    Hotspring 44's Avatar
    Hotspring 44
     

    the United States of America is no longer a democracy, but rather an oligarchy

    Too Important for Clever Titles -- Scientific Study Says We Are an Oligarchy
    (link goes to the actual article from DAILY KOS Article date: Mon Apr 14, 2014 at 06:42 PM PDT).

    Note Update: (one of several in updated article) :
    Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 12:03 PM PT:
    A commenter makes note from one of HoundDog's diaries that the data used for this study was drawn from study of public policy 1,779 instances between 1981 and 2002. Did you get that....2002...In other words the closing set of data PRE-dates the years most of us would say were when the oligarchs truly built steam. Think of what's unaccounted for: the Iraq War, OWS, drones and the NSA, Citizen's United and now McCutcheon. One has to think if the last 13 years had also been accessed, the conclusions would be much more dire than even they already are.

    In that article, there is this link:

    A new study appearing at Princeton's website <(Note: link goes to the a 42 page pdf download): in part it says:
    Quote Abstract:

    Each of four theoretical traditions in the study of American politics – which can be characterized as theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy, Economic Elite Domination, and two types of interest group pluralism, Majoritarian Pluralism and Biased Pluralism – offers different predictions about which sets of actors have how much influence over public policy:

    average citizens; economic elites; and organized interest groups, mass-based or business-oriented.

    A great deal of empirical research speaks to the policy influence of one or another set of actors, but until recently it has not been possible to test these contrasting theoretical predictions against each other within a single statistical model. This paper reports on an effort to do so, using a unique data set that includes measures of the key variables for 1,779 policy issues.

    Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens
    and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence. The results provide substantial support for theories of Economic Elite Domination and for theories of Biased Pluralism, but not for theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy or Majoritarian Pluralism.

    Last edited by Barry; 04-16-2014 at 02:47 PM.
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  2. TopTop #2
    arthunter's Avatar
    arthunter
     

    Re: the United States of America is no longer a democracy, but rather an oligarchy

    Here's more on this subject from Bill Moyers ...

    https://billmoyers.com/episode/what-...you-to-know-2/

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by Hotspring 44: View Post
    Too Important for Clever Titles -- Scientific Study Says We Are an Oligarchy
    (link goes to the actual article from DAILY KOS Article date: Mon Apr 14, 2014 at 06:42 PM PDT).

    Note Update: (one of several in updated article) :
    Tue Apr 15, 2014 at 12:03 PM PT:
    A commenter makes note from one of HoundDog's diaries that the data used for this study was drawn from study of public policy 1,779 instances between 1981 and 2002. Did you get that....2002...In other words the closing set of data PRE-dates the years most of us would say were when the oligarchs truly built steam. Think of what's unaccounted for: the Iraq War, OWS, drones and the NSA, Citizen's United and now McCutcheon. One has to think if the last 13 years had also been accessed, the conclusions would be much more dire than even they already are.

    In that article, there is this link:

    A new study appearing at Princeton's website <(Note: link goes to the a 42 page pdf download): in part it says:

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  3. TopTop #3
    BethLinley's Avatar
    BethLinley
     

    Re: the United States of America is no longer a democracy, but rather an oligarchy

    We were never a democracy. Study go government before commenting on it.

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by arthunter: View Post
    Here's more on this subject from Bill Moyers ...

    https://billmoyers.com/episode/what-...you-to-know-2/
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  4. TopTop #4
    Hotspring 44's Avatar
    Hotspring 44
     

    Re: the United States of America is no longer a democracy, but rather an oligarchy

    Technically speaking, I believe the USA is and has been, for the most part; (generally speaking) more of a Democratic Republic than a “pure” Democracy.

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by BethLinley: View Post
    We were never a democracy. Study go government before commenting on it.
    A “pure Democracy” would be brutal without a well constructed and enforceable Constitution. Just imagine if 1 vote over 50% of votes could establish precedent that would have the ability for government to, in effect enslave all others below that 50% by a simple majority vote! That would be ridicules and untenable, a recipe for mayhem to say the least.



    BethLinley, I am curious, what did you mean when you said: Study go government before commenting on it.”... ...?...



    … I did a search for go government” and found: https://www.gogovernment.org/ that URL appears to be a government employment guide suite in which the header on the home page says:
    Quote Welcome to Go Government, your one-stop shop for how to find and apply for federal government jobs.
    ......


    BethLinley, could you be more specific to exactly what you are suggesting to “study”?... ...any links?
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