------ US: democracy or oligarchy?

 

Was the US election really about saving America's democratic freedoms and her checks-and-balances on power interests?  Biden claimed yes. Or was the election about saving the US economy from an administration unconcerned with business and "prosperity", as Trump claimed? Or are these grand political panoramas just a cover for another manipulation of unconcerned and unthinking citizens? 

Probably all three issues were in play, and many more. But to me the important point is that this charade shows in technicolour that the U.S. has a highly flawed system of democratic governance. Why would any country want to copy what just went down in the US?  The USA does not rank among the top 20 democracies in the Western world, and thus it itself is in great need of overhaul and renewal. It is more accurate to describe the United States as an oligarchy, not a legitimate democracy.  An oligarchy is a regime where an economic elite and powerful organized or corporate interests are in virtual control of the agenda and budget on most issues of importance.  Average people are mainly political window-dressing there (just as we are here in Canada). Most US voters can't identify three non-Euro nations besides their own --  how can they legitimately pick a world leader? 

Kelly Smith, PhD

Pontiac