As a youth, I remember media talking heads using the term managed democracy being used to describe the various "regimes" that had free elections, but which in no sense did citizens democratically determine the direction of the country's government. It didn't take much introspection to apply that logic to the USA, but apparently introspection is a rare trait.

As Nyerere said, the United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them. We get to have free elections where the only thing we decide is to what degree of depravity the government will treat marginalized people.

[–] iridaniotter@hexbear.net 14 points 1 year ago

Reverse polisci is just too good. The American two-party regime is a managed democracy that exhibits fragmented authoritarianism via rule by law due to its federalist structure.

[–] RyanGosling@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As Nyerere said, the United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them.

I thought Mark Twain said that. Or did I fall for a Facebook quote meme

[–] Beaver@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago

It's attributed to Julius Nyerere, but is possibly apocryphal.