Are we losing our American democracy to capitalism?

Question

Our government seems more and more concerned with capitalism and less and less concerned with democracy.

Have we completely betrayed the founding fathers hopes for this country? America was formed when it was a slave-holding country, so hypocrisy regarding democracy is nothing new.

However, by not impeaching Bush and Cheney, we are allowing them to forever change the nature of the presidency; instead of being beholden to congress, the executive branch is in danger of being transformed into a dictatorship beholden to no one.

In America, money rules; the people no longer seem to.

And most disturbingly there is no public outcry, no anti-war marches of any significant number. We are sliding into totalitarianism because...almost no one in America cares.

So what if America now ranks #36 in life expectancy? As long as the rich have access to health care, the fate of the common man is of little concern to anyone, INCLUDING the common man himself/herself.

kveryeffective, this president is invoking executive privilege every time congress wants to question Bush's staff; he has written more signing statements than all of his predecessors combined in a successful effort to weaken laws. He is doing as much damage to future Republicans as he is to Democrats. Wake up and smell the corruption!

blueridgeliving: RIGHT ON!

I could NOT have said it any better!

No, Scott U, I am not.

Are you?

Answer 1

You are 100% correct. But it's already happened.

This country has lost its soul - America is all about the money.
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TO tetlitea---

YOU ARE A MILLION % WRONG.

bush "hasn't changed the Constitution?" Girl? Ever heard of the Patriot Act? It eviscerates the Fourth Amendment and the First Amendment. bush or anyone he chooses can SAY WHO THEY THINK IS A "TERRORIST" and then there is NO LAW which applies to that citizen. Ever hear of the Military Commissions Act? It's the Patriot Act on acid. Ever hear of the executive order he signed into law this past May 9? IT GIVE BUSH, AND ONLY BUSH, THE POWER TO "INTERPRET" THE CONSTITUTION in case of a "national emergency" Oh, and guess who gets to decide WHAT is a national emergency? Right. BUSH. Ever hear of the OVER 750 EXECTUVE SIGNING STATEMENTS BUSH HAS ENACTED SINCE HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE?

Do you know what those things are? It's where he takes LAWS, BILLS, things which the constituents - that's you and me, babe- have gone to their ELECTED REPS and gotten certain things passed, and voted on, and made official, after YEARS of lobbying and writing and effort.....and he says, "Well. THIS is what I think it means. I will interpret this how *I* want to."

Do you understand what that means? It means HE IS DECIDING ALL THE LAW AND ALL THE POLICY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY REGARDLESS OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES/THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT which this country was founded on.

WE HAVE A DICTATOR, FOLKS.


When I read stuff like what you posted it -- it makes me SCREAM.


HOW CAN PEOPLE WALK AROUND SO IGNORANT? SO BLASE ABOUT OUR RIGHTS BEING STOLEN?


I just can't stand it.

Answer 2

America is not a Democracy, it's a Republic and has been since day one, and money has always ruled.

A republic is "form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives. Today, the terms republic and democracy are virtually interchangeable, but historically the two differed. Democracy implied direct rule by the people, all of whom were equal, whereas republic implied a system of government in which the will of the people was mediated by representatives, who might be wiser and better educated than the average person. In the early American republic, for example, the requirement that voters own property and the establishment of institutions such as the Electoral College were intended to cushion the government from the direct expression of the popular will."
(dictionary.com)

We only have <2 more years of Bush, he hasn't made any changes to The Constitution (which he couldn't w/o congress and that isn't going to happen) so he hasn't really changed anything, just stretched the limits in place.

We need to worry about things like his Judicial appointments, things that can have consequences for years to come and other acts he may do during the rest of his lame duck term, but all lame duck presidents make changes before they leave office.

The government has played this game for years but now with better access to media more people actually know about it. The bulk of it will always trickle down in some way but the average person is just going day to day.

I'm just happy that we live in a country where we can speak freely, many people don't. I don't agree with what's always going on either but I am not worried about the US becoming a Totalitarian society either, not if Big Business can help it.

Answer 3

Just another reason not to vote Republican. Reps are the driving force behind this crisis. The sad thing is, many Republican supporters are just dumb poor red necks who don't benefit from the corporations taking over. Why do you think the Republican party caters to the lowest class of this country? It's because anyone with half a brain can see through the BS. Look at the Republican base.......red necks, racists, uneducated and then the filthy rich. Democracy will be lost if the Republicans stay in office.

Answer 4

The most successful effort of Republican propaganda since Reagan has been its insitence that democracy and capitlism are actually synonyms.

As education has been devalued, and public information censored by the same cabal, it has become more likely that people will not be able to learn that this is actually a calculated lie.

Answer 5

No. Capitalism is not a form of government and is not at odds (nor particularly supportive of) democracy, even though the two were closely linked durring the Cold War.

Answer 6

Capitalists strive to morph into monopolistic, Fascist, Oligarchs. It's the natural progression if government "The People" fail to control it. Any wonder why Republicans want less government oversight.

Answer 7

money isn't "pretend." that could be a stand-in for human exertions, expertise, time, and power. money improves the performance of an financial device because of fact we will not continuously be proximate to those with whom we are able to barter or substitute. money facilitates us to "substitute" for the time of 1000's and 1000's of miles with human beings we've under no circumstances met, that is area of the clarification why we are so wealthy. And in the previous you condemn being "wealthy," understand that wealth enhance is why human beings are not dying of infections and syphilis in gutters and why we've get entry to to refrigerated food, aircon, and washing machines. Wealth extends and improves human existence. in case you may desire to easily use what replaced into made on your instantaneous section, you does no longer have a working laptop or laptop, television or maybe maximum of your outfits and shoes. because of fact human beings are actual, money is actual. money is in basic terms us, a representation of what we do, that facilitates to paintings jointly and advance one yet another's lives.

Answer 8

There is a reason why there is a sepration of powers in our Consitution so that no one branch can run rough shot over the others.

Bush was elected TWICE to the presidency of the United States.

I think you should take a deep breath and relax.

Because you don't like a president is not grounds for impeachment.

So how about some cheese with your whine?

I have some great garlic cheddar for you post.

Answer 9

It's not capitalism, it's imperialism--this is a little long, but it gets the point across:

http://www.michaelparenti.org/Imperialism101.html

And we Americans have allowed it to happen

Answer 10

Going....going......gone.

Big business took over long ago. You must have missed the memo.