Scientists prove: US is oligarchy, not democracy

[ParryWinkle]

Leadified said:

How is it dumb? Look how much power Russian oligarches have, as an easy example, you don't think American oligarches can do the same? And no they can't directly control the US but they can have massive influence on the government. Would Saudi Arabia and Israel create lobbies in the US if they knew they didn't have influence? Of course not. Those are just foreign countries, you should check out the lobbies huge corporations have.

Now your workers example is technically true but it is much more complicated than that. For many coporations, the workers live in countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia and work at the factories there. Those people have little rights and no influence what so ever at what happens at the companies they work for, they can't strike because it's the only thing keeping them alive and they're expendable. Now, Starbucks is a bit different because they employ many Americans and have good pay. And that's exactly the problem, try convincing the Starbucks workers to quit their jobs and protest, they won't. Especially since for example here in Canada many of those workers are young people who just need a bit of money, they really don't care as long as they get paid, especially since the working conditions are fairly good.

Some countries are better than others in that regard. In Canada companies do not have as much of an influence as in the US but its still there and it will always be there because they are a fundamental part of the economy. The US happens to be home to the biggest and richest ones and they want their interests to be protected, and if the system allows it, they will.

As long as I have my Starbucks.

In other words, I insulted a bunch of people itt and stated something that seemed obvious too me at that time but after getting into a coversation in something I'm ill educated in and after reading what you said, it leaves me thinking. Thinking about it, I should probably have lurked this thread.