Spreading Oligarchy
April 18, 2014 12:59 PM Subscribe
The United States of America is technically an Oligarchy. From the linked article: A new scientific study from Princeton researchers Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page has finally put some science behind the recently popular argument that the United States isn't a democracy any more. And they've found that in fact, America is basically an oligarchy.
According to the political theorist Robert A. Dahl, a Democracy must meet 5 distinct criteria:
Effective participation: Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to form their preference and place questions on the public agenda and express reasons for one outcome over the other
Voting equality at the decisive stage: Each citizen must be assured his or her judgments will be counted as equal in weights to the judgments of others.
Enlightened understanding: Citizens must enjoy ample and equal opportunities for discovering and affirming what choice would best serve their interests.
Control of the agenda: Demos or people must have the opportunity to decide what political matters actually are and what should be brought up for deliberation.
Inclusiveness: Equality must extend to all citizens within the state. Everyone has legitimate stake within the political process.
According to the political theorist Robert A. Dahl, a Democracy must meet 5 distinct criteria:
Effective participation: Citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to form their preference and place questions on the public agenda and express reasons for one outcome over the other
Voting equality at the decisive stage: Each citizen must be assured his or her judgments will be counted as equal in weights to the judgments of others.
Enlightened understanding: Citizens must enjoy ample and equal opportunities for discovering and affirming what choice would best serve their interests.
Control of the agenda: Demos or people must have the opportunity to decide what political matters actually are and what should be brought up for deliberation.
Inclusiveness: Equality must extend to all citizens within the state. Everyone has legitimate stake within the political process.
This post was deleted for the following reason: As long as we're not a doublopolis... -- cortex
Apparently it's not news, but it is now scientific fact. And that's important, methinks.
posted by nikoniko at 1:08 PM on April 18, 2014
posted by nikoniko at 1:08 PM on April 18, 2014
Is this news?
It seems you've mistaken MetaFilter for a newspaper.
posted by wemayfreeze at 1:08 PM on April 18, 2014
It seems you've mistaken MetaFilter for a newspaper.
posted by wemayfreeze at 1:08 PM on April 18, 2014
"Are most voters mental zombies who are actually manipulated by oligarchs?" rhetorically asks Counterpunch.
"Duh," says Death & Taxes Magazine. "Perhaps we ought to suck it up, admit we have a classist society and do like England where we have a House of Lords and a House of Commoners, instead of pretending as though we all have some kind of equal opportunity here."
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:08 PM on April 18, 2014
"Duh," says Death & Taxes Magazine. "Perhaps we ought to suck it up, admit we have a classist society and do like England where we have a House of Lords and a House of Commoners, instead of pretending as though we all have some kind of equal opportunity here."
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:08 PM on April 18, 2014
Was it ever a democracy by those criteria? Until the late 1960s (and arguably even later) criteria #1, 2, and 5 didn't apply to a huge portion of the population.
posted by pravit at 1:09 PM on April 18, 2014
posted by pravit at 1:09 PM on April 18, 2014
Technically, the House and the Senate are modelled on the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:10 PM on April 18, 2014
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:10 PM on April 18, 2014
Relevant wikipedia link to the Iron Law of Oligarchy.
I.e. Princeton doesn't surprise anybody.
posted by bswinburn at 1:10 PM on April 18, 2014
I.e. Princeton doesn't surprise anybody.
posted by bswinburn at 1:10 PM on April 18, 2014
« Older Pyro Board | Top of the Pops 1968 - The Crazy World of Arthur... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by codswallop at 1:04 PM on April 18, 2014 [1 favorite]