[JumpCrisscross]

> Here’s another possible interpretation: our information environment makes people extremely vulnerable to actual bullshit in massive volume

That is also true. People get angry and then misdirect it. But the anger is real, and it filters up through the political system when the valves aren't clogged. They aren't, not anywhere in the West. Voters across the West have essentially begun a wholesale replacement of their stable of elites. That is not what happens in an oligarchic system.

[ImPostingOnHN]

> That is not what happens in an oligarchic system.

The person USAns just voted in is literally an oligarch, as is his co-president, and he has indicated that he will populate his cabinet and advisory board with still more oligarchs. His "inauguration" slush fund has already received hundreds of millions of dollars from other oligarchs to secure their place in the new oligarchy*

*: Pure or otherwise

[JumpCrisscross]

> person USAns just voted in is literally an oligarch, as is his co-president, and he has indicated that he will populate his cabinet with still more oligarchs

America is tending towards an oligarchic system. (This is a history of weak democracies, historically, and a reason we were founded as a republic and not pure democracy.) That doesn't prove it currently is one. Trump's election is largely about replacing the technocratic and cultural elite with a commercial one.

[nico]

> America is tending towards an oligarchic system. (This is a history of weak democracies, historically, and a reason we were founded as a republic and not pure democracy.) That doesn't prove it currently is one

Maybe that doesn't. But this study does:

> Princeton University study: Public opinion has “near-zero” impact on U.S. law.

> One thing that does have an influence? Money. While the opinions of the bottom 90% of income earners in America have a “statistically non-significant impact,” economic elites, business interests, and people who can afford lobbyists still carry major influence

Source: https://act.represent.us/sign/problempoll-fba

The study is from 2004. I'd say things have gotten a lot more "oligarchic" in the last 20 years, and seems like it might get even worse in the next few years

[llamaimperative]

That is absolutely how oligarchic systems supplant democracies.

Hitler was elected, Orban was elected, Bukele was elected.

[immibis]

And Putin and the first supreme leader of North Korea. Democracies can turn into dictatorships quickly. But don't worry - it can't happen here.

[JumpCrisscross]

> Hitler was elected, Orban was elected, Bukele was elected

None of them emerged from oligarchic political systems.

[llamaimperative]

If your argument is "the US was not a pure oligarchy 4, 8, or 12 years ago", sure.

I don't think that's what people are pointing out.