Is the U.S currently a pluralist democracy or is it run by power elites?

Answer 1

Power elites, determine who the candidate is, how well funded they are and in return they serve those who made them what they are.

Answer 2

There are many wealthy people in the United States but they are not all members of the power elite. Advantageous positions for power, prestige, and wealth include the uppermost administrative positions in the three top bureaucratic organizations--the Pentagon, corporate America, and the executive branch of the United States Government. President Clinton had a lot of power when he was the President of the United States but as a retired president his power has been diminished. Retiring as the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and moving into a main cabinet position as Secretary of State have increased Colin Powell’s power. The position or office holds the privilege of power not the person. Holding these positions or offices enable the elite to gain administrative control of our main bureaucratic organizations, so they are able to maintain their own wealth, power, and privilege.

In a pluralist democracy power, privilege, and wealth are distributed more equitably on several different levels throughout the democratic state. It is more inclusive than a state that is run by a few who represent the power elite. Even Robert Dahl, one of the stalwart supporters of the concept of pluralism, concedes that "the marked concentration of wealth, as well as the barriers to equal opportunity faced by minorities, constitute basic flaws in our nation's quest for a truly pluralist democracy" (Macionis, 1995, p. 447).

Answer 3

Who chooses tha candidates of either rep or dem parties? You and me? Until they put "none of teh above" on the ballot, and force a resubmitting of new candidates if "none of the above" wins, the elites will have the control over who sits in office. Do independents have a chance? That is what the media, run by elites, is there to keep the lid on. Last thing we want is ordainary people getting plucked off the street and put into office. I have the crazy idea of supporting TERM LIMITS too. Mark Twain lamented that of all walks of life, for some reason Americans choose to fill Congress with lawyers.

Answer 4

In my opinion the USA WAS originally to be formed as a pluralist democratic rebublic. We had representation in the form of elected canidates yet still had the power for individual voting protocol. I think we are now run by power elites. The former democrat party & republican party have now merged into one entity.
Most Americans are blind sided to this all so obvious fact. The politicians(magicians!) of the democratic republican party use the good guy/bad guy tactics to keep American voters pinned to that parties coat tails. It'll take a "hard" jolt to bring American voters to their sences. Until Americans vote for a party that fields representatives instead of politicians(magicians!) the American public will remain in a state of increasing despair.
It's simply amazing to watch the GG's(Gully Gullable's) hypnotized by the democratic republican parties rhetoric comes election time. I mean the typical American voter(GG) has been so successfully conditioned to vote for the demo/repub party that they ACTUALLY beleive that the democratic republican party is two distinct differant parties!!!
This will only get richer until/if the typical American voter figures out to vote for respectable representatives from a respectable party such as the Libertarian party, instead of politicians(magicians!)that infest the democratic republican party of today.

Answer 5

First, America is a republic meaning that we choose people to make our decisions for us.
The reason that "power elites" seem to run everything is because we as voters have allowed elections to turn into popularity contests instead of elections (especially when we're told not to vote FOR someone but rather AGAINST another).
The party system that is unfortunately staffed by good people but fueled by money aren't constitutionally granted. Congress invented them and have passed their own rules that ensure their survival and dominance of our law making process. Until we (voters) can can vote with our minds and trust ourselves to make the right decisions then "power elites" will always take what we give them.

Answer 6

Elites - political, media, corporate, intellectual and so forth - hold most of the power in the US. While the common folk do vote in elections, it's elites who frame the debate, and who nominate, fund, and, for that matter /are/ the candidates.

Answer 7

A pluralist democracy.

The U.S. economy and government are way too big to control by one entity.

Answer 8

All countries are run by greedy humans with the most money.
Thats always been the case.

Answer 9

*confused look* HUH? .....You might have to explain this one a little more.

Answer 10

democrazy