Princeton Study says America isn't a democracy

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals ... 3B382B992B

According to this, the USA is an Oligarchy rather than a proper Democracy.

What do you think? Are there methods sound? Are their findings accurate?

[Robovski]

It's a federal republic. ''Proper'' democracy like the Greeks had with landowners voting and unlimited bribery by the wealthy, YMMV. Ever since money = speech the oligarchy aspect has been amplified as while everyone may have one vote, most people do not control most of the wealth, not by a long mark.

So in a way, this is nothing new - the wealthy used to buy the votes and consent of the populace in Rome (for example, there are others). In others it is how we fail to care for the great experiment that is the United States as we degrade the rights of the common folk while we recognize who new rights for corporations and the wealthy. We are approaching crisis; we will either have reforms or revolution in the next generation (but that is my opinion).

[GandALF]

It says it fails to be a majoritarian, populistic democracy in many respects and that the average citizen still enjoys democratic freedoms.

No, wait.

WAIT

It actually says that CORPORATE NAZI RETHUGLICANS CONTROL UR THOUGHTS

Also, the study is nearly 4 years old, that's not news. Some of its observations on populism might be a tad outmoded.

[Antiboyscout]

We're actually a Constitutional Republic with representative democratic aspects?

No?

Never mind...

[Asvarduil]

It actually says that CORPORATE NAZI RETHUGLICANS CONTROL UR THOUGHTS

See, y'all were laughing when I wore a tinfoil hat. Who laugheth now!?

[excalibur]

I've always thought we were a Democratic Republic

[ORCACommander]

oh boy this can of worms. In the strictest definition of the word we are not a democracy except at the most local levels of government. by and large we are a republic with democratically elected representatives.

[GandALF]

A republic just means you're not a monarchy. The U.S. is a democratic republic and not a monarchy, the UK is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, China is a republic and very much not a democracy.

The modern use of "democracy" refers to liberal democracy, it's absurd that people constantly bring up the 2400 year old definition of democracy as though its somehow relevant. If Athenian democracy was liberal Socrates wouldn't have had to order a hemlock martini.

AND THE STUDY IS NOT ABOUT THIS. It's Fuzzy trying to rehash the "rich people are evil" thread.

Here's a rebuttal: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10. ... 8015608896

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

GandALF, that is a reasonable inference based on past behavior, but not in this case. This was me seeing a study somebody else posted, going "Huh, this looks interesting, but I'm not sure if I understand it correctly and I don't think I have the information to confirm or deny it, so I'll throw it into a debate forum and see what happens."

[CharlesPhipps]

Populist is a strange criticism because it always seemed to be used by people who hate what the people vote for.