[Zigurd]

If Gilens and Page are right and it is true that the will of the people is observed only in cases that do not matter to the rich and powerful, then all that work to gain voting rights was, in fact, futile.

The US has a closely managed "democracy." We vote. But it has about as much effect as the button at crosswalks. We can state our opinions, but they are monitored closely enough to chill fundamental change. Would you call that actual freedom?

[MysticFear]

chill fundamental change: Women's right to vote, African American right to vote, 16 constitutional amendments, legalization of drugs in many states, marriage for gay people in many states, abolition, abolishing abolition, end of Vietnam war, etc, etc.

Just because you view of fundamental change is different, doesn't mean we haven't made fundamental changes. Making changes this broad should take a long time.

So, yes we do have actual fundamental freedom.