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Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
11. Jumped me again, Fumey.
Fri May 8, 2015, 05:23 PM
May 2015

The scariest thing here is that right-wing gov's are arising around the world. Britain; Netanyahu's new coalition which is reportedly "the most extreme in Israeli history; Canada; Australia…

and that little sliver of land wedged between Canada & Mexico--

Major Study Finds The US Is An Oligarchy
ZACHARY DAVIES BOREN, THE TELEGRAPH
APR. 16, 2014, 8:16 AM 199,112 143


The U.S. government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern universities has concluded.

The report, "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens" (PDF), used extensive policy data collected between 1981 and 2002 to empirically determine the state of the U.S. political system.

After sifting through nearly 1,800 U.S. policies enacted in that period and comparing them to the expressed preferences of average Americans (50th percentile of income), affluent Americans (90th percentile), and large special interests groups, researchers concluded that the U.S. is dominated by its economic elite.

The peer-reviewed study, which will be taught at these universities in September, says: "The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence."

Researchers concluded that U.S. government policies rarely align with the preferences of the majority of Americans, but do favour special interests and lobbying organizations: "When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover, because of the strong status quo bias built into the US political system, even when fairly large majorities of Americans favour policy change, they generally do not get it."


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/major-study-finds-that-the-us-is-an-oligarchy-2014-4#ixzz3ZaGbFset


It seems to me that the right wing parties of the so-called western democracies either have found or are well-advanced in developing ways to totally ignore the cumulative expressed will of their ordinary citizens.

Here is a cute little poster from Switzerland, which I think speaks for itself:



Wisconsin was just the first target. They're coming now for the rest of you.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Do you think a lot of Democrats votes for the republican governors? Thinkingabout May 2015 #1
Not a lot edhopper May 2015 #3
I am one who does not. Thinkingabout May 2015 #10
I feel the same way about countries that elected crap RW Presidents Fumesucker May 2015 #2
If you're are talking about Reagan edhopper May 2015 #5
We not only deserved what Reagan did, we are experiencing his hell to this day. randys1 May 2015 #32
Jumped me again, Fumey. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #11
Who asked for your sympathy? PeaceNikki May 2015 #4
I just find edhopper May 2015 #7
Well, when people proclaim "we deserve it" it reeks of ignorance and arrogance. PeaceNikki May 2015 #9
+1 nt steve2470 May 2015 #22
Amen to that, PeaceNikki. Greybnk48 May 2015 #49
^THIS^ It's like saying FUCK DEMOCRATS in Texas! Look who their Governor is! cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #47
What about the people who didn't vote for the RW governors? LeftishBrit May 2015 #6
Yep edhopper May 2015 #8
Well , we wound up with our crap Governor in NC because octoberlib May 2015 #12
It may not always be a majority of the people LeftishBrit May 2015 #14
It's okay. You don't have to apologize. Chellee May 2015 #48
cop out DonCoquixote May 2015 #43
ponder on their ignorance..... nuff said steve2470 May 2015 #13
You think us Democrats in states with (R) governors are "ignorant"? PeaceNikki May 2015 #16
no, of course not, I was referring to the OTHER voters steve2470 May 2015 #18
I hear ya, hard to have respect for my state sometimes. Now it is worse than ever. Rex May 2015 #15
So how did you feel when gwb was elected? That you did it to yourself? DrDan May 2015 #17
Bush was appointed, not elected world wide wally May 2015 #20
whatever . . . does the OP feel any sense of responsibility for it? DrDan May 2015 #23
See post #5 nt edhopper May 2015 #26
that's convenient DrDan May 2015 #33
convenient how? edhopper May 2015 #41
The old excuse about voter turnout being low is weak and stale. world wide wally May 2015 #19
So somehow in your messed up reasoning... MerryBlooms May 2015 #21
Your post (not you, juries) is cold and unfeeling steve2470 May 2015 #24
Clear something up for me? winter is coming May 2015 #25
Unfortunately, it takes suffering for the majority of people to wake up Cali_Democrat May 2015 #27
The GOP's "whack job" base is more powerful than anything out there. Eleanors38 May 2015 #29
If they're so powerful... Cali_Democrat May 2015 #30
Laughing is good for you. But I stand by by statement. Eleanors38 May 2015 #46
Another of these posts. meh. Fact: No Opposition. nt Eleanors38 May 2015 #28
It is ESSENTIAL they experience GREAT pain, otherwise we can never fix this. randys1 May 2015 #31
so if an alcoholic runs over a family.. DonCoquixote May 2015 #44
ever consider the possibility of stolen elections? reddread May 2015 #34
... handmade34 May 2015 #42
... reddread May 2015 #45
Le Pew is a special case KamaAina May 2015 #35
So that includes those red states Maryland and Massachusetts? Tommy_Carcetti May 2015 #36
What about the nonvoters? KamaAina May 2015 #37
I certainly have less sympathy for them than maybe I should have rock May 2015 #38
States have a government elected by a majority of those who vote Agnosticsherbet May 2015 #39
I agree edhopper May 2015 #40
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