Oligarchy then is overthrown by democracy, which ultimately falls into its own corresponding distortion, mob-rule (or ochlocracy).
That WAS the reason the United States was not set up as a democracy. It was set up as a representative republic. To hopefully avoid the excesses of passion associated with pure democracy (such as Socrates drinking hemlock). And the reason for the electoral college is that the original idea was the the "best" from each state would choose the President, rather than "the mob". Over all, it hasn't really worked that way.
where the power, although nominally in the hands of We the People, is actually wielded by cliques and lobbies, in other words, the elite, and far removed from view.
Oh, come now. "We the People" have more say and influence on the government than ever before. If you wish to cite a problem, THAT may be it. In the early Republic, only white real property owners, a small percentage of the population, were even eligible to vote.
Lobbies? What of the League of Women Voters? NOW? The Sierra Club? The greens? Consumer's Union?
This all falls under
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
There is nothing in there that says your income has to be under $10,000 a year before it applies to you. |
