Can the elite who run the nation do it if they were known by the public?

Question

If there is a shadow government and a very elite very rich crowd pulling strings could they do this if they weren't so hidden?

If we knew who they were - would they be able to continue to pull strings or would the act of being known cause them to suddenly be accountable?

Answer 1

Hell yes. But, the decision makers are the representatives of the people. They have to be elected or acknowledged as wise advisers to the representative. The people have to know that these decisions are being made in the best interest of the American people. The only way to inform the people is to deal them in to the factors that go into the public policy.
Government Representatives have to stop deceiving the public. This situation in Iraq is a perfect example. We invaded Iraq with trumped up information. The Administration has never explained why they took it upon themselves to make a National decision about war and peace without listening to there own advisers let alone the hundreds of knowledgeable people who also knew something about what it takes to invade a Country, when it is permissible to invade a Country and what you do with the country once you replace the existing government.
All of this was done in secret with the knowledge held by a few individuals who really had little experience with anything remotely as important of even grave as the decision to invade Iraq without provocation or very unsubstantiated evidence that Iraq was doing anything that threatened the United States.

Answer 2

There isn't but if there was only ignorance would stop anyone from knowing who they were. Nothing is private these days, the media even tells the enemy where are troops are.