Fantasy Democracy in America
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
The nation’s founders created a system, empowering its privilege class alone to rule – democracy the way it should be an anathema notion rejected throughout US history.
Each electoral cycle, names and faces change. Dirty business as usual remains in place under duopoly governance with two extremist right wings.
It’s why millions of eligible voters abstain. Powerful dark forces control things. Ordinary people have no say, the way it’s always been since the republic’s inception.
America’s electoral process is deeply flawed. Horse race pseudo-journalism covers the process – issues vital to public interests and welfare excluded from reports, voters left uninformed in the dark.
Managed news misinformation and disinformation created a truth emergency gone unaddressed – voters unable to make informed choices.
Unlike elections elsewhere, America’s are money-controlled, billions of dollars spent each electoral cycle.
Media misreporting favors some candidates over others, undermining public trust.
Flawed US elections aren’t new. Improved technology makes outcomes easier to control. Duopoly governance excludes independent voices.
Voter disenfranchisement is rife, millions denied the right to vote. Easily manipulated corporate controlled electronic machines vote, not citizens.
It’s why losers at times are declared winners – most notably in America’s 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
Bush/Cheney lost both times, yet served two terms in office, Al Gore and John Kerry denied the office they won.
Would it have made a difference otherwise? Not likely! Republicans and undemocratic Dems are two sides of the same coin – the system too corrupted to fix.
America may be the only country without uniform electoral rules nationwide. Fifty states set their own, their variances unjustifiable, contributing to unfairness.
Enfranchisement isn’t automatic the way Venezuela runs its system – all its citizens enfranchised at birth, eligible to vote at age-18 by registering.
A paper trail facilitates checking election results for accuracy, making electoral rigging virtually impossible – world’s apart from America’s debauched system.
The NYT pretends voting in America matters, ignoring the nation’s fantasy democracy – criticizing eligible US voters for failing to exercise their franchise.
The Times: “Casting a ballot is the best opportunity most of us will ever get to have a say in who will represent us, what issues they will address and how they will spend our money.”
False! Each electoral cycle, things stay the same – no matter the outcome. Republicans and undemocratic Dems take turns governing. Voters have no say whatever – their rights and welfare ignored.
Why vote when governance under both wings of duopoly rule serve privileged interests exclusively?
Endless imperial wars, neoliberal harshness, and police state laws explain the dismal state of things in America today.
Elections when held are farcical, monied interests winning every time.
Democracy in America is pure fantasy. The real thing doesn’t exist.
It’s why around half the electorate abstains in presidential year voting, larger numbers in midterm elections.
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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
