The Truth About US Democracy

BY: Mehdi Alavi

US claims democracy, but falls short. Authoritarian regimes like Russia and Egypt also display democratic elements.

[{"selector":"#anim-4597204c-8d41-4047-bb79-8c02b9454f09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14cd1b99-01fe-4e2e-9beb-540fdd5cd266","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.71093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-713cd0e5-8f3b-43a6-9eca-876681d5a53c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.07720882507519636%, -1.4204543558307459%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

US claims representative democracy, but politicians serve megadonors instead of constituents' interests and welfare.

[{"selector":"#anim-9b53ade7-d951-44ad-9c33-2497e9948a3a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.7912447417445452%, -2.0292206265366812%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4c95b9b-c756-4eb3-8850-939be19d4cf2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05b5266b-6dc5-4046-8121-679ded14aa33","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.71093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Rich control US politicians, Trump's meeting with megadonor Adelson raises suspicions, denying intentional influence.

[{"selector":"#anim-3325d0f7-ec82-4d01-b9f6-62784298acd2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.694879425676764%, -1.0146101753601255%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58d59006-6add-4a29-8ac4-15be6c82f1fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0fa58cf-ed3a-4c47-8ff0-51057a8db32c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.71093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

US electoral system corrupt, House Speaker election exemplifies inefficiency and fuels extreme political polarization.

[{"selector":"#anim-e44a9bd9-297f-492f-bc25-b31c8f1df7ec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.6948794256767633%, -1.2175322655954308%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27b05fc8-30c1-4ac4-aeb5-18ad87f55bfd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67f85394-180e-4eea-a3aa-9b05f138b9b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 118.71093%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Economic disparity oppresses minorities, rich-poor gap widens. 32% wealth held by 1%, while 11% live in poverty.

[{"selector":"#anim-d1e95140-b805-4993-9732-4f9a3c4f2f7a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.23162647522558907%, -1.6233764460660562%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5c1ab34-93b5-4245-9c58-2ca37b6b34a1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcece48b-7bca-40a7-866e-32d09e09ef1d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.42109%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

US economic disparities evident. Tax policy favors rich despite public opinion favoring higher taxes for wealthiest.

[{"selector":"#anim-53a8bda4-728a-452b-92ef-89f711f211a3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0809235510527444%, -1.8262985363013664%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c91a3eb5-cf8d-4d53-aa3e-26472f900df8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66c47563-0465-4e9a-9d2c-d2d6845d68ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.42109%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

USG intertwined with wealthy, forming a "deep state" plutocracy. Jimmy Carter referred to political bribery and oligarchy.

[{"selector":"#anim-221d9b72-eeda-4884-bf6a-c8b10e177ca1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -1.4204543558307459%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dc73ce1-4207-45cc-b8e4-31f5ba14d715","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae787fb2-4082-480c-90b0-1c5f2a404299","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.42109%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

US candidates dependent on wealthy donors. Senate races average $10M, 2016 presidential campaigns spent $1B+.

[{"selector":"#anim-0c991ec1-6806-4a7a-8f2a-fd628151c11d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -1.6233764460660562%) scale(0.9090909090909091)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddae8ef9-de7d-46a4-884a-98b80e7c376e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-178cf563-d2e4-4969-b68b-5026114a77d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.42109%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

CLICK HERE TO READ

[{"selector":"#anim-700cb927-d9f1-4ca4-ab02-68d54655ae41","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]