What form of governement does America appear to have now?

[porphyrian]

Poll question: What form of governement does America appear to have now?

Sure, sure, we're a democratic republic or whatever. But, based on the actual behavior of those currently in power, what term would you say most closely describes our current American form of government?

[FormerDittoHead]

1. dupe - sorry n/t

[FormerDittoHead]

2. Edited - didn't know what a "Plutocracy" was but that's it n/t

[porphyrian]

4. I like that one. Your definition was funny. - n/t

[BillZBubb]

3. Other: Oligarchy

The moneyed interests call all the shots. They use the theocrats for voting and propaganda, but on big issues, it's the money that determines the outcome.

Oligarchy of course is a component of fascism. We aren't there yet, but the right wing is working on it and the sheeple are receptive.

[Toucano]

22. Technically, I think you're describing a

plutocracy.

Plutocracy is a sub-set of oligarchy, the distinction being (as I understand it) where the political power of the few is derived from. In the case of plutocracy, it's wealth. In the case of gerontocracy, it's age.

Oligarchy (note: the various oligarchies have never totally identified themselves as such)

* Aristocracy
* Corporatism
* Gerontocracy
* Kleptocracy
* Meritocracy
* Plutocracy
* Technocracy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_forms_of_government

It's not that you're incorrect, but you can be more correct. :)

[BillZBubb]

24. Actually, I was being as precise as I could

IMO, we really have a mostly corporatist system now, but corporate and private wealth align so much, it's an oligarchy composed primarily of those two elements. Maybe I'm being too nuanced, but that isn't a pure plutocracy to me.

[Toucano]

25. Fair enough.

Nuance received! :)

[Pockets]

5. I voted fascism

fascism bordering on communism, because government and corporate power are combined to such a degree, and as a result have such a stranglehold on our lives. When looking for a job these days one may notice that they often want to know the minimum of what you require to survive. Communism is based on the same idea.

[porphyrian]

8. I don't believe fascism and communism are all that similar.

While part of communism is related to what an individual needs to survive in a society, it's not the same as the corporate greed-motivated attempt to hire the best labor at the lowest price. You might be confusing true communism with the "communist" countries of the 20th century, which weren't really communist by definition.

[Doctor_J]

15. Communism = goverment owns all the land & businesses

we are as far from that as you can get, with a few private citizens owning almost all the wealth.

[Kerrytravelers]

6. christo-fascist theocracy

I voted fascism...but on second thought really it's more like a christo-fascist theocracy.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

7. Right-wing authoritarian oligarchy n/t

[hobbit709]

9. You left out

kakistocracy-government by thieves

[Squeech]

10. No

Kleptocracy = government by thieves. (See Indonesia under Suharto.)

Kakistocracy = government by shit(heads).

[porphyrian]

13. In that case, Kakistocracy may be the most fitting. - n/t

[hobbit709]

14. OK

it's a kleptokakistocracy. They're shitheads and thieves.

[Mist]

20. Wouldn't gov't by shitheads be "coprophocracy" ?

I voted for plutocracy - govt by the wealthy.

[porphyrian]

12. Based on America's history, that could be said to have always been true.

Good term.

[WearyOne]

11. a fading democracy..a looming fascist state

[AG78]

16. Right now

The wealthy corporations own the country. Hell, the planet. But we still have a few things that help the people. They're fading away, somewhat slowly, over a period of decades. After the end of the 1920's, and WW2, you had to give the consumers something. So a middle class is invented. Keep the rabble happy.

We're beyond that now. There is no other empire to fight(for now, I'm sure there will be eventually), where millions upon millions will die in the process. Corporations own everything and everyone, so they can write laws that serve their interests.

But they'll never take away the technical right to free speech, and the right to own a gun. Whatever faceless suit that is in power is too smart for that. Even though your opinion means nothing. And if the US Government really wants to kill you, they'll find a way to do it.

It's difficult to boycott a store or product these days. They're all owned by the same few corporations. If a city here and there fight back economically, the corporation can just move to the next city, state, or country.

I'm not sure what to call it. They're all basically the same. They all eventually lead to power accumulation. Some slowly, some quickly. Whatever the hell a democratic republic is can't last forever, as we can currently see. Over the last century, global corporations have more power than they've ever had. Seeing as how they have human rights, without having to eat, sleep, or breathe.

[Doctor_J]

17. Plutofascism

government by a few wealthy people, who are beating the rest of us senseless.

[begin_within]

18. Corporatocracy. Governmeny of the corporation, by the corporation and for

the corporation. "People" are irrelevant.

[porphyrian]

19. Isn't it great to have a sociopathic government? - n/t

[CrownPrinceBandar]

21. Fascism......................

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism#Definition

Mussolini would have been proud.

[porphyrian]

23. Someone voted Democracy...

I'd like to hear a defense of that choice, given the other options.

[deadite]

26. Plutocracy

The regime certainly has some fascistic features, and uses theocratic ideas to mobilise the fundy base, but ultimately it's all about the money.

[porphyrian]

27. Didn't we kill fucking fascists just a couple of generations ago?

I may be wrong, but I thought Americans hated fucking nazis. What gives with our apparent swing towards fascism?

[porphyrian]

31. Maybe this belongs in its own post. - n/t

[NAO]

38. No, we imported them into the CIA, NASA, others under "Paperclip"

It's quite a fascinating history.

We put the heat on a few Nazi's for show at the Nuremberg trials, but we got to keep all the really "good" ones and bring back to the United States to help us with our freedom.

They got incorporated and entrenched into the National Security State and set about putting forth their agenda in their new country.

[QC]

28. Kleptocracy n/t

[Jazzgirl]

29. Well....

We have a kleptocratic, fascist, oligarchic, plutocracy. That sound about right??!!??

[G_j]

30. a fascist plutocracy n/t

[Is It Fascism Yet]

32. Theocratic Fascism. n/t

[Darranar]

33. Plutocracy with a few meaningful democratic forms. n/t

[zann725]

34. O.K....now ask us a tough question.

n/t

[Jack_DeLeon]

35. The United States is a Republic...

We are government by our representatives, however these representatives are definately not that of the people.

[Solly Mack]

36. America's own special version of fascism

a little of this, a little of that...a dose of the illusion of democracy to keep the masses quiet...

it's like we took fascism and adapted it to fit America...which propaganda must do to achieve a victory...it must address it's audience

[Jack_DeLeon]

39. America the world's foremost Fascist nation...

remember Hitler actually had to take notes from us on issues of eugenics, propaganda, and lets not forget we pretty much did to the Indians what he only tried to do to the Jews and the rest of Europe.

[Solly Mack]

40. Yes, I'm well aware of that

but I still say we adapted fascism to fit the American mentality...no other way to maintain America's myths without adapting it....and they need those myths

[LatePeriduct]

37. The results speak for themselves.

There is another word for fascism which has now been twisted, and remolded into true loyalty.

It is known as dominionism, fascism of the new age.

[Tactical Progressive]

41. Right-wing Thugocracy

These people are just immoral, unethical power whores.