General Discussion

HughBeaumont

(24,461 posts)

75. Not especially. It would require several.

Tue Apr 19, 2016, 12:12 PM

Apr 2016

At this point, merely "Electing more Democrats" is not enough. By and large, the person who has screwed America the most for 16 years still calls himself a Democrat (Lieberturd). "Democrats" like Mary Landrieu, Dianne Feinstein and Max Baucus didn't do us any favors either.

Instituting a no-loophole, no Cayman Islands Escape Plan progressive tax structure will go a long way to collect billions left on the table each year by corporations and the wealthy. A 0.025% HST transaction tax would be another route. Not running America at the behest of the lobbyists, immediately ending folly wars, closing some of the 900 or so bases around the globe, stop being the world's cop, capping H1B visas, releasing the SS cap, raising the Capital Gains tax to pre-Failure Fuhrer levels . . . so many things we COULD do, but don't have the political will or the numbers.

The P90X Ryan Congress is a major roadblock.

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From BBC: "Study: US is an oligarchy, not a democracy" [View all] Divernan Apr 2016 OP

Most American voters "mental zombies" manipulated by olilgarchs. Divernan Apr 2016 #1

Jimmy Carter said the same thing. It's been pretty clear for a long time. Dustlawyer Apr 2016 #12

Mental zombies? Most? Sounds like the usual right wing rhetoric we hear when... Nitram Apr 2016 #25

One thing is certain when the oligarchs are mentioned... R. Daneel Olivaw Apr 2016 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author silvershadow Apr 2016 #59

DUZY!!!! Fantastic Anarchist Apr 2016 #86

Thank you! silvershadow Apr 2016 #87

Most Americans are uninformed, ronnie624 Apr 2016 #43

It is not just Fox News, it is the whole Media! Paper Roses Apr 2016 #65

I agree completely, ronnie624 Apr 2016 #66

I don't think so... TowneshipRebellion Apr 2016 #128

Not just Fox News. 840high Apr 2016 #79

Right. The article I posted makes that perfectly clear. n/t ronnie624 Apr 2016 #82

I disagree - Americans are highly informed. RiverNoord Apr 2016 #93

Well put and good question. Akicita Apr 2016 #103

Sounds like a Hillary apologist this. KPN Apr 2016 #73

Just someone who thinks America and Americans are not as bad as you make us out to be. Nitram Apr 2016 #78

My my ... arrogance abounds. KPN Apr 2016 #83

I agree. Your arrogance would seem to have no limits. Nitram Apr 2016 #135

And the Clinton fans see everything their authoritarian leaders do as wonderful. Living in a rhett o rick Apr 2016 #101

Have you ever visited any of the countries... Bohemianwriter Apr 2016 #125

And that's all Clinton's fault? What a crock! Nitram Apr 2016 #134

She is partially responsible when she pushes for these hawkish policies... Bohemianwriter Apr 2016 #136

Exposing one's ignorance while expressing outrage is not confined to the the right wing. OnyxCollie Apr 2016 #74

exactly. people with blinders flocking to BS media that only tells them what they want to hear uhnope Apr 2016 #130

Fucking Amen. Phlem Apr 2016 #68

Counterpunch LOL. They should talk about "mental zombies" uhnope Apr 2016 #129

Mental zombies who don't think big money, dark money etc. is a problem. haikugal Apr 2016 #2

This is the very reason the Democracy Spring Protests are so important. Lint Head Apr 2016 #3

Of course, people have to really care enough about it cprise Apr 2016 #95

Listening on FSTV to a Chris Hedges interview from Democracy Spring right now. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #96

"Time to scare the shit out of the power structure" Chris Hedges. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #97

"Our current situation is Economic Elite Domination (or, you know, plutocracy). " Divernan Apr 2016 #4

Super Delegates colorado_ufo Apr 2016 #53

This election is so clear on that. The idea of the Clinton jwirr Apr 2016 #56

Agree 100%. I am disgusted and disillusioned about our election process. n/t Paper Roses Apr 2016 #76

Thank You For Sharing cantbeserious Apr 2016 #5

Michael Parenti drew that conclusion decades ago malaise Apr 2016 #6

I used to love to listen to him speak. I have several still, just copied a couple to my phone cui bono Apr 2016 #84

Ha - are you married malaise Apr 2016 #85

Study: Brilliant round object illuminates eastern sky each morning n/t IDemo Apr 2016 #7

For all those who are clueless as to meaning/existence of "oligarchies" Divernan Apr 2016 #8

I was pointing out the self-evidence of their findings, not questioning its relevance n/t IDemo Apr 2016 #9

The MSM is going to jump right on NOT reporting this story! Dustlawyer Apr 2016 #13

Ticker on CNBC right now: "REFORMING THE TAX CODE" HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #15

This might have been news in the late 18th century Orrex Apr 2016 #10

And your PhD is from where? Oh, right, Quid-pro-quo U. Divernan Apr 2016 #11

Golly! It's like you didn't read what I posted! Orrex Apr 2016 #18

I think the robber barons of the late 1800's probably controlled government as much or more Akicita Apr 2016 #104

LINCOLN SHOT! TITANIC SINKS! HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #14

sometimes we need to be told our collective fly is open dembotoz Apr 2016 #24

Do any of those studies bother to come up with a solution? jwirr Apr 2016 #57

Not especially. It would require several. HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #75

Those sound like very good goals. And the first paragraph jwirr Apr 2016 #80

yes but.... MidwestTech Apr 2016 #100

So why do we even bother, then? Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #16

Because we can still wake the fuck up! Divernan Apr 2016 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author Vilis Veritas Apr 2016 #33

Thus the bread and circus. zeemike Apr 2016 #45

You may be right but the leaders at the barricades are the jwirr Apr 2016 #64

^^^THIS^^^ jwirr Apr 2016 #60

Yes, it seems that US democracy is more about faith then about rule by the people fasttense Apr 2016 #17

This says everything zentrum Apr 2016 #19

No, Diverman... zentrum Apr 2016 #21

The solution is simply to get involved treestar Apr 2016 #22

"The US ... is basically similar to Russia or most other dubious 'electoral' 'democratic' pampango Apr 2016 #23

Interesting that no one seemed to have noticed that the report says the US is... Nitram Apr 2016 #26

yep. The ballot is still the currency of power in the USA, so it's not an oligarchy (yet) uhnope Apr 2016 #90

Distinction without a difference. Do you have an opinion re the OP? Or are you just here rhett o rick Apr 2016 #99

I'm just pointing out that you all are e ngaging in some serious hyperbole. Nitram Apr 2016 #133

Facts? That's funny. Clinton supporters some how believe that if we give the banksters rhett o rick Apr 2016 #137

Jesus, not this shit again. Indydem Apr 2016 #27

Jesus, not this shit again Scootaloo Apr 2016 #31

Thank you! 2naSalit Apr 2016 #36

So much wrong. Indydem Apr 2016 #51

Then vote suppression and election fraud are anti-democracy movements. TryLogic Apr 2016 #54

If we were a democracy gay marriage would still be illegal in California and many other states. Akicita Apr 2016 #105

Our supreme and circuit courts are democratic institutions as well Scootaloo Apr 2016 #117

"A constitution is simply a foundational body of law". No, the Constitution IS the law. Every Akicita Apr 2016 #107

And those changes are achieved via a democratic process. Scootaloo Apr 2016 #118

Geez. We are a constitutional republic. Akicita Apr 2016 #122

Huge +1! Enthusiast Apr 2016 #110

Those are very right-wing points you're making, there. TransitJohn Apr 2016 #42

Not talking about Parliamentarian democracy. Indydem Apr 2016 #47

"Period." TransitJohn Apr 2016 #48

Very mature. Indydem Apr 2016 #52

Super easy to get under your skin. TransitJohn Apr 2016 #55

yeah I can't believe those little emoticon thingies are used by anyone over age 13 uhnope Apr 2016 #131

Hmm. The founders did not trust the people. So they set up this republic. PatrickforO Apr 2016 #44

The question is simple: Indydem Apr 2016 #46

Then let me posit this: our representative government SHOULD but does not presently work. PatrickforO Apr 2016 #58

You are missing the point kaleckim Apr 2016 #62

I can feel it. Equinox Moon Apr 2016 #28

What else is new? Of course we aren't a democracy. nruthie Apr 2016 #29

rw talk radio is worth 390MIL$/MONTH, at least certainot Apr 2016 #30

Huge +1! Enthusiast Apr 2016 #111

Oh, what a surprise. (Not) Chalco Apr 2016 #32

And what will we do about it? Bernie is our chance in a lifetime to return reject the oligarchy. NCjack Apr 2016 #34

Here's another "duh" question... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #35

Those few who control America...and, indeed, most of the world... Thespian2 Apr 2016 #38

Schools across the U.S. teach the fallacy LibDemAlways Apr 2016 #39

Mark Twain said, "If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it." Maybe you should have PatrickforO Apr 2016 #41

Carlin had his finger on the pulse. That American Dream LibDemAlways Apr 2016 #115

How did our current group of young Democrats learn the jwirr Apr 2016 #67

I think the answer is to a large extent social media. LibDemAlways Apr 2016 #114

That sounds like my grand children and their friends. And jwirr Apr 2016 #116

Well, WE all know this. Too bad it won't be picked up by the corporate owned PatrickforO Apr 2016 #40

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Apr 2016 #49

To many of us, it is pretty damn obvious. TryLogic Apr 2016 #50

Really look at the FREE TRADE issue hollowdweller Apr 2016 #63

The fact is that more workers benefit than are harmed. Nitram Apr 2016 #138

it takes the brits to formally announce this Demonaut Apr 2016 #61

They finally won the Revolutionary War. jwirr Apr 2016 #70

No, it was from Princeton, and widely covered in the USA in the couple of years muriel_volestrangler Apr 2016 #113

But, but, but, but, Hillary Phlem Apr 2016 #69

The best money can buy! Blue Owl Apr 2016 #71

Kick and R BeanMusical Apr 2016 #72

In a related story they determined water was wet. Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2016 #77

Divernan, forgive me, saidsimplesimon Apr 2016 #81

knrnt Rebkeh Apr 2016 #88

five power categories 4ricksren Apr 2016 #89

BS from a blog. The ballot is still the currency of power in the USA, so it's not an oligarchy (yet) uhnope Apr 2016 #91

Its a corrupt Banana Republic ErikJ Apr 2016 #94

Actually, the country was founded deliberately as ... Fantastic Anarchist Apr 2016 #92

Hillary...Where Hope Goes To Die billhicks76 Apr 2016 #98

Not only that, but it's an oligarchy within a republic. merrily Apr 2016 #102

It did not become an oligarchy by accident. We can trace back to a number of bad decisions made Enthusiast Apr 2016 #106

400 recommendations would be about right for this one. Enthusiast Apr 2016 #108

It's interesting to follow the recs it's got over the couple of years since publication muriel_volestrangler Apr 2016 #112

So if the USA is an oligarchy Angel Martin Apr 2016 #109

Learned this in poli sci 101 laundry_queen Apr 2016 #119

STOP THE PRESSES! sakabatou Apr 2016 #120

Progressives need to look after each other Kumbricia Apr 2016 #121

It's true. A handful of people wield power disproportionately using money/media/etc. as a tool. PoliticalMalcontent Apr 2016 #123

So change from the inside out is not possible. What IS the answer? Lodestar Apr 2016 #124

Not quite, it is a plutocracy...which is just a more diverse oligarchy. Rex Apr 2016 #126

The BBC is spot on robertgodardfromnj Apr 2016 #127

too bad this wasn't the BBC but just a blog rehashing the same old cherrypicked BS uhnope Apr 2016 #132

I thought we were an autonomous collective. Francis Booth Apr 2016 #139