quote: 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.
I wonder how much longer until the bad future from Continuum comes about, I don't want to be a part of the North American Union. Posts: 12931 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
just want to get this out of the way in the beginning so that the discussion can maybe take a less tiresome tact than it does in most places
the study is not saying that the united states is an oligarchy, it is saying something very different that can be read (fairly in many ways) as evidence that the united states is becoming more oligarchic. the reasons why are endemic to pretty much every government on earth with few countries (nordic ones are a classic example) being better than the US in terms of total plutocratic/oligarchic influence on government.
anyone linking articles on this study and using it to say 'look see we're no better than <insert other country>' is usually being silly
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Thread is definitely not an oligarchy. I'd say I'm more of a malevolent (or is that benevolent?) monarch.
Posts: 1194 | Registered: Jun 2010
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