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…

  • MyOpinion@lemm.ee
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    12 days ago

    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.

    • Jumpingspiderman@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      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.

      • BreadstickNinja@lemmy.world
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        12 days ago

        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.

        • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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          12 days ago

          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.

          • BreadstickNinja@lemmy.world
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            12 days ago

            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.

      • SeattleRain@lemmy.world
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        12 days ago

        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

      • MyOpinion@lemm.ee
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        12 days ago

        In the case of America we are a government by popular election and control in its composition through this vote.

    • BNE@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      11 days ago

      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