An Oligarchy and Not a Republic? No Kidding?
Frank Salvato
April 21, 2014
This article was originally published at Because Our Republic Is Worth It...
The Washington Times is reporting that a study by Princeton and Northwestern Universities has determined that the fundamental transformation of the United States of America has already taken place. We have transitioned from a Republic (as our Framers intended) to an oligarchy:
"America is no longer a democracy — never mind the democratic-republic envision by Founding Fathers. Rather, it’s taken a turn down elitist lane and become a country led by a small dominant class comprised of powerful members who exert total control over the general population — an oligarchy, said a new study jointly conducted by Princeton and Northwestern universities.
"One concluding finding in the study: The US government now represents the rich and powerful, not the average citizen, United Press International reported...
"Researchers then concluded that US policies are formed more by special interest groups, than by politicians properly representing the will of the general people, including the lower-income class, UPI said."
Really? Who would ever have thought?! Oh, that's right, we "whackoids" and the "domestic terrorists" among us; those warning about the encroachment of dominant government into our private lives. We have been (first politely and now with a twinge of anger) voicing this ongoing event for quite a while, first as individuals and now in organized groups.
This is what happens when Progressives capture the message-crafting media. This is what happens when we pass amendments to the US Constitution that destroy the protections built-in for the individual States. This is what happens when factions and big-money, special interest groups reign supreme in Washington, DC. This is what happens when the no- and low-information voters decide elections, our country's well-being hanging in the balance.
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Whether or not it is too late to change anything is a matter of debate. Personally, I am inclined to fight for the country and the capitalist economic system that literally created the first Middle Class ever to exist in the history of man.
To that end, there is an organization that has developed a solution - or at least the vehicle to achieve a solution - to the manipulation of the no- and low-information voters by the special interests and political opportunists currently transforming our Republic; the oligarchs, if you will.
Founders Alliance USA*, a non-partisan group, has developed VoterFYI.
The VoterFYI initiative is for voters (and especially unengaged, no- and low-information voters) who are dissatisfied with the current political system and the parties that have corrupted it. The initiative matches voters to the candidates on any given ballot whose positions are compatible with the voters' highest values using machine intelligence. Unlike the position paper model of think tanks, the VoterFYI process is more personalized by leveraging advances in social technology and artificial intelligence to match voters to their candidate, make recommendations on issues based on the data that is input, and save precious time.
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Part of the pain of transitioning from the most promising form of government (the American constitutional Republic) to the failed tenets of oligarchical Socialism is the destruction of prosperity; the equalization of society by the denial of opportunity.
There has been very little economic growth for the last five years. The "recovery summer" has come and gone with the worst recovery ever recorded. In 1950, more than 80 percent of the populace in the United States had jobs. Today, less than 65 percent do. Because they're feeling acute pain monetarily, the sleeping giant that is "We the People" is waking up to the disparity and recognizing the incompetence of both political parties. It is at this point that Progressives and oligarchic elites intend to swoop in with an expansion of the entitlement state; the nanny state, as the solution to ease the pain; government advances to control even more of our lives than it already does.
The brilliance of the VoterFYI project comes in its ability to elevate the issues above the political parties and above the misinformation and deception of the terminal power-seekers. It allows each individual to formulate and refine their understanding of the issues, and then match these preferences on the issues to those candidates who best align to their preferences, thus circumventing the Madison Avenue political rhetoric that only well-connected money can buy. Once the populace understands the issues - and how they, themselves, feel about the issues - no intentionally contrived message of spin by either established political camp can deceive the voters any longer when those preferences are matched with a candidate's voting performance and/or official position statements...and this includes the unengaged, no- and low-information voters.
Find out more about VoterFYI by clicking here.
I don't know about you, but I am unwilling to stand by, doing nothing more than complaining, as Progressives and political opportunists finalize the fundamental transformation of the United States. I am choosing to actually do something about it. How about you?
"The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" ~ Patrick Henry
* In the interest of transparency, the author sits on the board of directors for Founders Alliance USA.
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