Actually our democratic system is very similar, our republic quite different. We are a republic by the way and the differences to a democracy should be learned by those unenlightened. Yeah, Bush started it and Obama has made it worse, much worse...
But the similarities to political influence being for hire are too amusing and acute to dismiss. Why would an uncontested senatorial election cost over $2 million for a job paying $250k...? Hmmmmmm...
Yeah, Rome decayed from within and we are most definitely on the same path, no worries! These are so many social indicators smacking us in the face, we are too numb to realize. But most will be happy to zip home from work, make dinner and catch their favorite reality tv show, wake tomorrow and repeat the cycle. The disparity to have's and have nots is wider than ever, with the top 1% owning (how much, I won't tell you) of the wealth here, and the majority are happy to slop down some Mickey d's for lunch. We educate unemployable graduates and 30 is the new 20... After accumulating ridiculous debt for a college education, almost 70% work outside their field of study.
The American Dream of the single income earner providing a house with the white picket fence, dog, two kids, summer vacations and savings for college education for you kids and a little nest egg for retirement is all but dead! The Fed will spend billions trying to win the hearts n minds of river ****ters while 30% of grade school kids are hungry. You will work into your 70's before benefitting from any of that $ you paid into the so called social security fund, maybe enjoying it for a few years before average life expiration will get you.
The wealthiest nation in the world lags many in health care, education, worker benefit programs and more. National debt owned by other foreign countries, namely China, if they called our markers we would all be starving tomorrow... the Feds buying into the market to stimulate the economy, etc., etc., is all smoke and mirrors.
Yeah... There's decay... But they keep it just under the level of stinking up the joint where everyone would notice. Some do and many even when presented the facts - disbelieve! But it's there... You know why Gold hit all time ridiculous highs? If you don't, then you will be one of those with your nose pressed against the window looking in when it all falls apart. Me too, no worries, cause ill be like everyone else, sitting on the fence watching it happen.
: )