The Illusion of Democracy
Western leaders routinely proclaim their nations as shining examples of democracy, drawing sharp lines between themselves and “autocracies.” President Joe Biden’s 2022 State of the Union speech framed global politics as a battle between democracy and authoritarianism. However, if democracy is defined as governance by and for the people, these nations fail the test. Elections do not make a system democratic if power and policy are controlled by elites, insulated from public accountability.
The United States: An Oligarchy, Not a Democracy
Academic studies from Princeton and Northwestern University have confirmed what many intuitively understand: the U.S. is an oligarchy. A study of 1,779 policy outcomes found that economic elites and business interests have significant influence on government decisions, while average citizens have virtually none. Policy reflects the interests of donors, not voters.
Campaign Finance and Corporate Control
Following the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, corporations gained unlimited power to influence elections under the guise of “free speech.” Super PACs allow billionaires to flood campaigns with money, hiding their involvement while shaping political outcomes. Over 90% of winning candidates in the House, and 80% in the Senate, were those with more financial backing. Money, not merit, wins elections.
Donald Trump and the Billionaire Cabinet
Trump’s presidency crystallized U.S. oligarchy. He placed over a dozen billionaires in his administration, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. These individuals came directly from Wall Street or Silicon Valley and used public office to serve private interests. Trump cut taxes for the rich, with 72% of benefits going to the top 20%. The poorest 20% received nothing. This was reverse Robin Hood economics.
Democrats: Obama and Biden Serve the Same Masters
The illusion of choice in U.S. politics is reinforced by Democratic complicity. Barack Obama bailed out Wall Street after the 2008 crash. His biggest donors were Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Google, and Microsoft. Joe Biden, during his campaign, promised elite donors that “nothing would fundamentally change.” He kept that promise. Bloomberg alone donated $94 million to his campaign. Biden’s Cabinet includes former BlackRock executives and corporate lobbyists.
Bernie Sanders and Democratic Party Sabotage
When a genuine populist like Bernie Sanders emerged, both parties moved to block him. Despite being the most popular U.S. politician in 2017, Sanders was undermined by the DNC. Internal emails released by WikiLeaks showed deliberate sabotage to ensure Hillary Clinton’s nomination. In the 2020 cycle, Sanders again faced systemic resistance. The Democratic establishment would rather lose to Trump than allow a socialist to threaten elite interests.
The UK: Corbyn vs. the British Oligarchy
Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party was sabotaged by the British political and intelligence elite. MI5 and MI6 leaked against him, and dozens of UK media stories painted him as a threat to national security. Even internal Labour Party officials boasted about undermining him. Corbyn’s anti-war, anti-austerity, and anti-imperialist stance threatened oligarchic control, so he was neutralized by the system he hoped to reform.
France: Emmanuel Macron, President of the Rich
Macron, a millionaire investment banker, eliminated France’s wealth tax, enriching the elite while poverty surged. A government report found no economic benefits to the tax cuts. Forbes noted that the rich got much richer. Macron, overwhelmingly backed by the wealthy, governs against the working class. When his party lost the 2024 snap elections, he ignored the outcome and appointed a right-wing banker to continue elite rule.
Germany: BlackRock’s Oligarchy
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz was formerly the head of BlackRock Germany. Despite his party winning just 28% of the vote, he formed a coalition government. Merz, a corporate lawyer and multi-millionaire with private jets, symbolizes the revolving door between finance and governance. Germany, like the U.S., is run by financial elites posing as public servants.
Italy: Draghi and the Goldman Sachs Clique
Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank and Goldman Sachs executive, became Italy’s Prime Minister to “stabilize” the country. In reality, he imposed austerity, served market interests, and maintained neoliberal orthodoxy. The Italian people had little say in his appointment or policies. Draghi, like Macron and Merz, epitomizes the banker-technocrat model of European oligarchy.
Canada: Mark Carney, Banker-in-Chief
Canada’s current Prime Minister Mark Carney was formerly Governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, and a Goldman Sachs banker. Now heading Canada, he represents a seamless transition from central banking to political power. Like his counterparts in the U.S. and Europe, Carney governs for capital, not citizens. Canadian democracy is similarly subordinated to Wall Street interests.
Conclusion: The West Is Not Democratic
Western regimes use the language of democracy to hide oligarchic rule. From Washington to London, Paris to Berlin, Rome to Ottawa, policy is shaped by and for billionaires, bankers, and multinational corporations. Elections change figureheads, not power structures. The real divide is not democracy vs. autocracy. It is oligarchy vs. self-governance. Until corporate money is removed from politics and public interest reclaims its place, these governments will remain plutocracies wrapped in democratic illusion.
