Lappyrat92
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The government used to tell us which water fountains we could or could not drink out of, and who could open a bank account and/or own property. We’ve had plantations basically act as feudal lords in the south during slavery. And we’ve been drafted into fighting wars for most of the countries history.
MrSpookywasagoodboy2
Never really had a democracy, so, yes. It was set up as an autocratic democracy.
fractalsphere
Thank conservatives for all that. Progressive have been trying to lift us out of that, but conservatives at every opportunity hold society back
Targe0
I mean, the whole war of independence was done because Wealthy Americans wanted more political power.
They were Oligarchs that were upset they couldn't influence politics enough.
So they convinced the common people that it was in their best interest to rise up. Even though after the revolution, the lives of the common people didn't change, and they had the same level of rights as before. But the American wealthy gained all the power and set it up that only they would have it.
tachyx
Then a black man became president and they completely lost it
Targe0
Obama winning 2 terms might have proven to have been a mistake.
Not because a Black man shouldn't be President.
But because him doing that seems to have really energised the far right to get organised and has led to the events of today.
Yarnham1
... but all of that could have been and has been changed by the democratic process, so ... not an authoritarian government in practice?
Targe0
The American version of Democracy is the least democratic version of Democracy of all western nations. The system is inherently non-democratic and always has been.
CoeurFranc
The main reason: money.
Targe0
Not even that, it's just structurally the least democratic. The systems it uses are the ones that have the least amount of the people's voice being heard.
Case in point the fact that the popular vote winner is rarely ever the one who actually holds office.
When in most other democracies, the one who gets the most votes is the winner.