The Invisibility of U.S. Oligarchs: The Case of Penny Pritzker

[RiverNoord]

11. It owns both parties, and ensures that they are...

carefully managed to provide the illusion of major political divisions among Americans.

A political system with exactly two institutionalized political parties, instead of only one, presents many advantages to an oligarchy. If managed appropriately, it can provide an effective illusion of choice to the people of a country, who can be counted on to confine their voting behavior within familiar parameters. The framework of 'the issues' can be maintained in such a way to prevent most people from even comprehending the identity and nature of those who actually hold and direct the use of power. Social perspectives that are generally opposed to each other (issues like racism, sexism, gun control, abortion, gay rights, religion in/not in government) can be manipulated in order to cultivate and sustain animosity among people who might otherwise focus on questions like 'who really runs things and what are they doing?'

And they've gotten so good at it that the need for illusion is fading. Once the people of a country become generally resigned to the view that their country's politics are corrupt, the need for the facade is reduced...