Charts and graphs: Plutocracy

Is America a Post-democratic Society? How to Preserve Our Republic by Paul Kurtz was emailed to me in response to Monday's blog. It's a Humanist State of the Union, and the prognosis isn't good.

For democracy to function fully, not merely formally but in actuality, it is essential that at least four other basic preconditions be fulfilled:

First, economic democracy: (a) a large middle-class with rising expectations of improved living standards; (b) some measure of equality of opportunity for the sons and daughters of the disadvantaged—their ability to rise to the top, creating a meritocracy, not a plutocracy based on wealth or conditions of birth; (c) some fairness in the distribution of income for the fruits of one’s labor; and (d) the ability of ordinary people to accumulate savings and own property.

Second, social democracy: (a) nondiscrimination based on class, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or age; (b) the nonexclusion of anyone from public facilities and amenities; (c) educational opportunity for all children and adults and broad access to cultural enrichment in the arts and sciences; (d) the right to leisure, rest, and relaxation; and (e) a peaceful and harmonious society without excessive fear, intimidation, or coercion.

It goes on from there. How many of those things are missing? How many are missed? Read it if you want to get unbelievably angry. Rights is bein' eroded; people's bein' trod on. I was only able to skim because such things, especially when backed up with data and graphics, make my blood boil. I nearly made it to the end, but then Kurtz mentioned Tim Lahaye and I almost bit through my tongue.

Courtesy of [Sausage]