Be that as it may, that’s not why bourgeois democracies serve the interests of the bourgeoisie—the Epstein class—over us. The game was already rigged long before you got to the ballot box.
There's a saying in Brazil that "people vote with their belly", usually as a derogatory for foor people voting for govt spending in social programs.
Another saying come to mind, "no democracy exists with empty bellies", because anyone that is hungry or at risk will vote for whoever is more likely to ensure their survival. Another important thing to think about, everyone votes with their belly, with the well-fed wanting to stay that way
As much as I hate Dilbert's creator, he got something right with the joke where you always have to give your boss 2 choices - one that you already chose beforehand, and another that's only there for the boss to reject so they think they contributed.
Democracy: Greek, dēmos krátos, 'people' 'rule' or rule of the people.
The people do not rule in the US so it's not a democracy.
It's hard to define what the US is. It has some democratic elements. The people are allowed to elect representatives, both at the state and Federal level, and many people are allowed to vote directly for or against certain measures through ballot initiatives at the state level, although this varies from state to state. However, our Federal representatives in the House each represent well over 700,000 people. That is a very large number of people, especially compared to most other democracies. And because we have a winner-take-all system, people who did not vote for the winning candidate may feel underrepresented or not represented at all.
I think the classification that best fits the US is Plutocracy: ploûtos krátos, 'wealth' 'rule' or rule of the wealthy. Not only do the wealthiest have a significant amount of money to invest in political causes, lobbying representatives and directly influencing elections, but they also often have significant private corporate ownership interests and control, giving them a great deal of power over the economy and access to critical resources. Even democratically elected representatives tend to be quite wealthy, or at least much wealthier than the average American voter. And even if they don't start out much wealthier, they often end up much wealthier after their time in office.
Is not even really a republic, but that is what is supposed to be. The problem is that elected representatives don't represent the people. The system is horridly corrupted at this point.
17 Comments
davel@lemmy.ml · 38 pts · 12h
Despite research having shown that our vote has virtually no effect on outcomes, many still want to believe.
Eheran@lemmy.world · -16 pts · 11h
Too many dumb people that vote based on feelings, ideology, parents, peers, ... instead of their own interests.
Nonconfrontational@lemmy.ml · 20 pts · 10h
Which party represents your interests and not doing a genocide in the middle east?
davel@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 8h
Be that as it may, that’s not why bourgeois democracies serve the interests of the bourgeoisie—the Epstein class—over us. The game was already rigged long before you got to the ballot box.
BrainInABox@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 7h
Yeah, that's the problem with America, people aren't selfish enough...
aberrate_junior_beatnik@midwest.social · 5 pts · 9h
People of course have no interest in their feelings, ideology, parents, or peers
ICastFist@programming.dev · 2 pts · 9h
There's a saying in Brazil that "people vote with their belly", usually as a derogatory for foor people voting for govt spending in social programs.
Another saying come to mind, "no democracy exists with empty bellies", because anyone that is hungry or at risk will vote for whoever is more likely to ensure their survival. Another important thing to think about, everyone votes with their belly, with the well-fed wanting to stay that way
Sibshops@feddit.cl · 17 pts · 7h
POV: "Vote blue no matter who" crowd when their "Blue" candidate votes for war.
Signtist@bookwyr.me · 11 pts · 5h
As much as I hate Dilbert's creator, he got something right with the joke where you always have to give your boss 2 choices - one that you already chose beforehand, and another that's only there for the boss to reject so they think they contributed.
TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 9h
Not.
Democracy: Greek, dēmos krátos, 'people' 'rule' or rule of the people.
The people do not rule in the US so it's not a democracy.
It's hard to define what the US is. It has some democratic elements. The people are allowed to elect representatives, both at the state and Federal level, and many people are allowed to vote directly for or against certain measures through ballot initiatives at the state level, although this varies from state to state. However, our Federal representatives in the House each represent well over 700,000 people. That is a very large number of people, especially compared to most other democracies. And because we have a winner-take-all system, people who did not vote for the winning candidate may feel underrepresented or not represented at all.
I think the classification that best fits the US is Plutocracy: ploûtos krátos, 'wealth' 'rule' or rule of the wealthy. Not only do the wealthiest have a significant amount of money to invest in political causes, lobbying representatives and directly influencing elections, but they also often have significant private corporate ownership interests and control, giving them a great deal of power over the economy and access to critical resources. Even democratically elected representatives tend to be quite wealthy, or at least much wealthier than the average American voter. And even if they don't start out much wealthier, they often end up much wealthier after their time in office.
PattyMcB@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 7h
It's SUPPOSED to be a democratic republic where the elected leaders vote the way their constituents would want.
But you're right it's more like a plutocracy in reality at this point
Fancy_Gecko@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 7h
they want to have their cake and eat it too
calmblue75@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 7h
More like they want to have their cake and sell it too
ChojinDSL@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 11h
And yet their vote means nothing.
Yeller_king@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 3h
Yeah, the majority of voters are.
sagedemage@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 10h
It is a flawed Democracy. Lobbying money corrupts the government.
Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 5h
It's quite literally not a democracy.
Is not even really a republic, but that is what is supposed to be. The problem is that elected representatives don't represent the people. The system is horridly corrupted at this point.