{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/66fb968b13b87f41275ee4bd/69d56082e257f11e03189b1c?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Is the US a Democracy?","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/66fb968b13b87f41275ee4bd/1775591375049-6e9e9600-bce2-45ab-9872-0367cb9806dc.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Not a rhetorical ploy, but an actual question. The strange form of American ‘Democracy’ today raises the very real idea that at some point a lack of competition in elections, the duopoly of the hold on power and the control exerted over the process of elections by un-elected officials produces a system that is functionally no longer really a democracy. Further, and I forgot to mention this in the lecture, the current structure ensures that the most senior and powerful members of both parties are not, functionally, forced to face an actual election. </p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/wescecil\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sign-up for&nbsp;Wes’s PATREON community</a>&nbsp;to get your questions answered by Wes! (Yes, Wes is very active on Patreon)</p><p><br></p><p>Plus, gain access to bonus lectures, peer discussions, additional course materials, and audio diaries from France. Only $2 / month.&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"Wes Cecil"}