So you think we live in a democracy? Well, let me start with the definition of plutocracy:
1. Government by the wealthy
2. A society governed by the wealthy
3. An elite or ruling class whose power derives from their wealth
It should be apparent to anyone who troubles to look at the control corporations have over every aspect of our lives — from the food we eat, to the news we see, to the non stop bombardment of the public by unrelenting commercialism — that our democracy is being replaced by a plutocracy of wealthy individuals and their corporations.
I find it ironic and very sad to see how people of the Tea-party persuasion are being tricked into acting against their own self-interest by the likes of Koch Industries and Rupert Murdoch, who are masters of using their staggering wealth to spread misinformation and to manipulate our political system to their own advantage.
You may have watched the recent assault on democracy in Wisconsin, were big money is locked in a death struggle with the people’s right to bargain collectively. Governor Walker’s goal is to weaken Wisconsin unions to the point were they are no longer able to participate in elections, which in effect will leave the entire field to the interests of big corporations. Wisconsin’s spring elections brought a staggering amount of money used by outside interests to move the electorate further to the right. However, todays election results show that there is still hope for democracy in America. The bellwether race was for supreme court justice, were the incumbent Justice Prosser was narrowly defeated by Joann Kloppenburg who had accepted public funding for her campaign. It is heartening to see how in the end BIG money spent on Justice Prosser’s behalf did not buy him a reelection.
For details on the supreme court race I’d like to share an interesting article by John Nichols which details the intricacies involved.
“…..for the Republic, for which it stands…..” – Pledge of Allegiance
I used to think the USA was a democracy, too.
Teresa, it is not too late to fight for democracy. It only takes people to say ‘enough is enough’ and take a stand to make a change, just like the young people of Tunesia and Egypt have done.
Sometimes I wonder why we are so different from other countries – in that way.
Too lazy?
Too self-oriented?
Too afraid?
Too naive?
All of the above?