The US is an oligarchy, study concludes

[Gothmog]

1. Talking Points Memo had a great interview with the author of this study

TPM had a great interview with the author of this study yesterday http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/princeton-scholar-demise-of-democracy-america-tpm-interview This question and answer really stood out

Let's talk about the study. If you had 30 seconds to sum up the main conclusion of your study for the average person, how would you do so?

I'd say that contrary to what decades of political science research might lead you to believe, ordinary citizens have virtually no influence over what their government does in the United States. And economic elites and interest groups, especially those representing business, have a substantial degree of influence. Government policy-making over the last few decades reflects the preferences of those groups -- of economic elites and of organized interests.