No, this is not a democracy
People of South Carolina, you have been conned. You think you live in a democratic republic. But you are wrong. You live in a plutocracy, which is government by the wealthy.
And we all know it’s true. Conservative billionaires, amounting to less than 1 percent of the population, donate vast amounts of money to congressional campaigns. They control the votes of both the House and the Senate. No, this is not a democracy.
Naturally, the billionaires favor their own. As a result, the 1 percent will get huge tax breaks (American Health Care Act), reduced capital gains tax rate, etc. Their businesses will profit from banking, business and environmental deregulation and reduced corporate tax rates.
Meanwhile, the 99 percent will get massive cuts in federally-supported social programs. Ninety-nine percent is larger than 1 percent. No, this is not a democracy.
Until campaign finance reform happens and gerrymandering is ended, the income and savings of the many will be sacrificed to the enrichment of the wealthy few. That’s not a democracy.
Tina Farrell
Bluffton
This story was originally published July 29, 2017 at 8:54 AM with the headline "No, this is not a democracy."