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Thread: Jimmy Carter: U.S. Has Become An Oligarchy

  1. #1

    Jimmy Carter: U.S. Has Become An Oligarchy

    Democracy is Dead, US Turns Into 'Oligarchy' - Jimmy Carter
    The need of at least $300 million for any would-be Presidential candidate in the US marks the transformation of the country from a democracy to an oligarchy. This irrecoverably undermines the country’s moral and ethical basis, Nobel Peace Prize winner and 39th US President Jimmy Carter claimed.

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    In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, former US President Jimmy Carter claimed he would not be able to run for president in today’s political landscape, since every contender needs sky-high finances.

    “There’s no way now for you to get a Democratic or Republican nomination without being able to raise $200 or $300 million or more,” Carter told Winfrey for her “SuperSoul Sunday” special. “I would not be inclined to do that, and I would not be capable of doing it.”
    Letting huge sums of money affect elections — and by extension, policy — has transformed what was once a democratic country into an oligarchy, the form of state structure in which power is held by a small group of wealthy people.

    “We've become now an oligarchy instead of a democracy, and I think that's been the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards to the American political system that I've ever seen in my life.
    He went on by saying that there is now an impassable gulf between Republicans and Democrats, one that wasn’t there 25 or 30 years ago, during his time in office.

    “When you get to Washington, you've already alienated Democrats from Republicans and Congress from the president, and red states and blue states,” Carter said.

    (More/source)

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    Last edited by allodial; 09-27-15 at 12:14 AM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  2. #2
    The US has always been an oligarchy since its inception:

    Book: Elites in American History, The Federalist Years to the Civil War by Philip H. Birch

    The aforementioned book is 1 of a 3 book set.

    Let us also not forget the iron law of oligarchy.

    Any corporate structure; whether public or private; whether monarchical, republic, aristocracy, democracy, etc.; will fundamentally be an oligarchy.

    The fundamental property of a pyramid structure is to concentrate power at the top.
    Last edited by shikamaru; 09-26-15 at 08:24 AM.

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by shikamaru View Post
    The US has always been an oligarchy since its inception:

    Book: Elites in American History, The Federalist Years to the Civil War by Philip H. Birch

    The aforementioned book is 1 of a 3 book set.

    Let us also not forget the iron law of oligarchy.

    Any corporate structure; whether public or private; whether monarchical, republic, aristocracy, democracy, etc.; will fundamentally be an oligarchy.

    The fundamental property of a pyramid structure is to concentrate power at the top.
    Which goes back to the idea, that it isn't so much the form of government as it is the kind of people which make up that government--what is in their hearts and what is their purpose. It might be worth considering the possibility of a popcorn trail leading from Aristotle back to ancient Egyptian mystery schools. It is said that the Grand Orient internal government is in the form of an oligarchy. IMHO, Oligarchy isn't necessarily a terrible form of government (unless of course the oligarchs themselves might be base, low or terrible themselves). Perhaps consider the Morlocks in the H.G. Wells movie Time Machine.

    Today there might exist some who while favoring oligarchy hate the idea of Jesus Christ or the Bible or moral laws because maybe the Bible's message might be that: you cannot for long rule while living with the mindset of a beast. Aristotle, it is worth noting, had an idea of the soulless man or woman. Esau/Edom typified placing the physical and worldly pleasures above all else while still wanting to hold a position of authority over others. It is said that the "Spirit of Edom" or Edom spiritually typifies or relates to those who place physical pleasures and the worldly over all else (possibly also while aiming to enjoy that which such a mindset forecloses him or her out of). Reminds me of modern Pop Culture, feminism and the "Gay Agenda"--those who want to enjoy the fruits of a lawful society but without having to contribute, to obey any laws or to restrain themselves (i.e. threatening and assaulting others who don't agree with them but without having to answer for it).

    What can we say about the character of Esau? Well this much we know. He scorns his spiritual inheritance as he scorned his birthright in times past. A profane man, he lives by the sword or by force of arms. Does he put his trust in guns and military armaments first and foremost? Esau was always inclined to be violent and wrathful. He has little patience for those whose proclivities tend toward nurturing and cultivating (as of the flocks). He scorns nurturing considering it evidence of weakness. He is not inclined towards cultivating crops or shepherding as his brother Jacob is. He prefers to hunt and to get his food by taking it down as hunters do. (Source)
    The character and nature of the oligarchs, like the character or nature of who is wielding a gun or a hammer probably is more significant than the type of government itself (i.e. who is "behind the wheel" probably makes a big difference rather than the type of automobile).

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    Last edited by allodial; 09-26-15 at 09:54 PM.
    All rights reserved. Without prejudice. No liability assumed. No value assured.

    "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
    "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Thess. 5:21.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by allodial View Post
    Democracy is Dead, US Turns Into 'Oligarchy' - Jimmy Carter
    The need of at least $300 million for any would-be Presidential candidate in the US marks the transformation of the country from a democracy to an oligarchy. This irrecoverably undermines the country’s moral and ethical basis, Nobel Peace Prize winner and 39th US President Jimmy Carter claimed.

    Name:  1027435454.jpg
Views: 333
Size:  118.4 KB

    In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, former US President Jimmy Carter claimed he would not be able to run for president in today’s political landscape, since every contender needs sky-high finances.



    Letting huge sums of money affect elections — and by extension, policy — has transformed what was once a democratic country into an oligarchy, the form of state structure in which power is held by a small group of wealthy people.



    He went on by saying that there is now an impassable gulf between Republicans and Democrats, one that wasn’t there 25 or 30 years ago, during his time in office.

    “When you get to Washington, you've already alienated Democrats from Republicans and Congress from the president, and red states and blue states,” Carter said.

    (More/source)

    Related:

    President Carter was always a class act IMO.

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