Some democracies fall apart because of invasion by a neighbor, terrorism, or a natural disaster, but most are taken down by their own own greedy oligarchs
It seems like the ones taken down by the oligarchs are the ones that disappear because they literally eat themselves alive and have to move on. After all the game of Monopoly has only one winner. Our own democracy has terrorized (starting with the British and American natives), invaded neighbors (like Mexico) and have contributed more to our growing natural disaster (our livable part of the earth). We have grown and beat back our oligarchs before, but money has a way of growing them back. It always comes back to the money (power). Follow the money!
U.S. Code/Title18-Part 1-Chapter 29-Subsection 597:
"Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and
Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
So what the hell, if Congress and these rich bastards can get around this law, why can't I sell my vote? Maybe I could use the NFT angle.
"You pays your money, and you takes your choice" …of politicians. The American oligarchic faction also buys the public mind and zeitgeist, which of course is the main prize. Human beings are workers and consumers with malleable fears and desires to manipulate and maximize for profit and power. On the sidewalks, that means low wages and benefits, high prices and debt. In the penthouses, that means a bubble economy inflating and popping, comforting the comfortable and afflicting the afflicted (apologies to Finley Peter Dunne), on both the way up and the way down. Rinse and repeat.
It seems like the ones taken down by the oligarchs are the ones that disappear because they literally eat themselves alive and have to move on. After all the game of Monopoly has only one winner. Our own democracy has terrorized (starting with the British and American natives), invaded neighbors (like Mexico) and have contributed more to our growing natural disaster (our livable part of the earth). We have grown and beat back our oligarchs before, but money has a way of growing them back. It always comes back to the money (power). Follow the money!
U.S. Code/Title18-Part 1-Chapter 29-Subsection 597:
"Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate; and
Whoever solicits, accepts, or receives any such expenditure in consideration of his vote or the withholding of his vote—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."
So what the hell, if Congress and these rich bastards can get around this law, why can't I sell my vote? Maybe I could use the NFT angle.
"You pays your money, and you takes your choice" …of politicians. The American oligarchic faction also buys the public mind and zeitgeist, which of course is the main prize. Human beings are workers and consumers with malleable fears and desires to manipulate and maximize for profit and power. On the sidewalks, that means low wages and benefits, high prices and debt. In the penthouses, that means a bubble economy inflating and popping, comforting the comfortable and afflicting the afflicted (apologies to Finley Peter Dunne), on both the way up and the way down. Rinse and repeat.
Here's the musical version (excuse the 3 year old references) https://waynemillersongs.com/track/2977581/follow-the-money