A functioning government is not possible as long as money is speech, corporations are people, etc. That directly translates to government by the wealthiest people.
I've noticed a distinct trend in the last month where even the most casual mention of the oligarchy attracts a bunch of downvotes. I'm trying to decide if this is an indication that some cohort of users here are deeply and passionately delusional about the political state of play, or merely uncomfortable about having it pointed out.
I mean, we're on a site that revolves largely around the Silicon Valley VC world. There've always been ultracapitalist types here who treat oligarchy as aspirational.
If anything, I'd say that's become less prominent in recent years as the consequences of that mindset have been playing out around us.