Is the United States still a democracy, or has it become something else? For most of American history, the country has prided itself on being a democracy, a system where the people, not the wealthy elite, have the power to shape the government. Citizens vote for their leaders, expect their voices to be heard, and believe that the government should reflect the will of the majority. But what if that’s not actually the case?
In 2014, two political scientists, Martin Gilens of Princeton and Benjamin Page of Northwestern, published a groundbreaking study that made a startling claim. When it comes to shaping government policy, the average American has almost no influence. Instead, the decisions made in Washington overwhelmingly align with the interests of the wealthy elite and powerful corporations. In other words, the United States may look like a democracy, but it often operates like an oligarchy, a system controlled by a small, powerful group.
Gilens and Page examined nearly 2,000 major policy decisions made between 1981 and 2002. They compared what different groups wanted—average citizens, wealthy individuals, and large interest groups like corporations—and then looked at which policies actually became law. The results were shocking.
When wealthy elites supported a policy, it was far more likely to be enacted. When average Americans supported a policy but the wealthy did not, the policy almost never became law. Business interest groups, such as corporate lobbying organizations, had enormous influence, often shaping policies more than politicians themselves.
Their conclusion? Ordinary Americans have almost no impact on government decisions. Instead, the country’s policies tend to reflect what the richest and most powerful people want.
So why does the U.S. function more like an oligarchy than a democracy? One major reason is money.
In 2010, the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission allowed corporations and billionaires to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns. This opened the floodgates for a system where the biggest donors could pour millions into elections, making politicians dependent on them rather than the general public.
As a result, political campaigns became more about raising massive sums of money than about connecting with everyday voters. Candidates who couldn’t attract billionaire donors or corporate backing struggled to compete. And when politicians win office with the help of the wealthy, they often pass laws that benefit their donors, not the public.
Beyond the Princeton study, several alarming trends suggest that power in the U.S. is concentrated in the hands of a few.
The richest 0.1% of Americans own more wealth than the bottom 90% combined. Political donations from billionaires and corporations far outweigh small donations from regular people.
Polls show that most Americans support issues like stricter gun laws, affordable healthcare, and higher taxes on the wealthy. Yet Congress often does the opposite, favoring policies that protect corporate profits and the wealthy elite.
Politicians manipulate election maps to ensure they stay in power, making many elections noncompetitive. Laws restricting voter access, especially for low-income communities, make it harder for ordinary citizens to have a say.