Can democracy survive now the world’s richest man has it in his sights? | George Monbiot | The Guardian
Can democracy survive now the world’s richest man has it in his sights? | George Monbiot | The Guardian
A vote for Donald Trump next week is also a vote for Elon Musk. He’ll have even greater power than the US president, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
This is what happens when successive US governments fail to tackle inequality. While millions of people live in poverty, a handful grow unimaginably rich. Wealth begets wealth, and they acquire political power to match. It was inevitable that one of them – now the richest man on Earth – would launch what looks like a bid for world domination...
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We never had a democracy. It was just white liberals pretending it was for 250 years.
We have had and continue to have a democracy. It may not be the form of democracy you like but no need to pretend otherwise.
And at least there's a statement about a more perfect union in the founding documents. The nation says it has a goal of making things better.
What makes a democracy a democracy?
Free and fair elections, rule of law, stable governmental institutions, individual freedoms, and a free and independent press. Just to give a few academic measures.
Free and fair elections,
Manipulated by advertising, marketing and propaganda paid by the wealthiest contributors to influence the population. Creating an environment where money and wealth get to decide who gets elected.
rule of law,
That can be side stepped, controlled or manipulated by those with wealth and used as a weapon against those with little or no money
stable governmental institutions,
That are heavily lobbied, influenced and controlled by those with wealth or corporations and seldom represent the actual will of the people
individual freedoms,
Which are constantly challenged or questioned by those with power in an effort to control and manipulate everyone into conforming into inequalitable classes of people.
and a free and independent press.
My favorite on this list .... free and independent press which are all owned and controlled by the wealthiest billionaires or corporations who allow their media to speak freely as long as they don't affect their bottom line.
I strongly agree that all of these are under threat or direct attack in the U.S., if that's your point. But these are some of the measures by which academics evaluate whether governments are "democratic" nonetheless. The U.S. in particular was much stronger on these measures twenty years ago than it is today.
Let's just start with not having slavery. And no calling it something else like prison sentences doesn't change that. Especially when you have States like Alabama practicing chattel slavery
In the case of America we are a government by popular election and control in its composition through this vote.
Whatever Wikipedia says if you go look it up.
We have had and continue to have a democracy. It may not be the form of democracy you like but no need to pretend otherwise.
- slave owners addressing their "uppity" plantation workers
"The appearance of legality must be maintained."