How do you think Atheists would fare if the United States moved to a complete Plutocracy?

With the ever increasing influence of money in politics, one result could be a Plutocratic form of Government. How do you think Atheists would be treated under these circumstances?

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Permalink Reply by paul babcock on March 27, 2011 at 10:20pm
I don't see there being any economic insensitive at all to screw us. As I see it our problem w the religious right is that they are in bed w government, not Bill Gates. Maybe I am missing something.
Permalink Reply by Joe on June 30, 2011 at 8:38pm
The rich and corporations would need a tool for controlling and getting the masses to vote against their own best interests. Religion is a perfect means of accomplishing this task. Which in turn would not be good news for us Atheists. “The Billionaires Tea Party” is an excellent documentary which shows the rich and their influences on American politics. I can only hope the populous in general is smart enough to realize these manipulating tactics, and keep our government a representative body for all the people.
Permalink Reply by Mike De Fleuriot on July 3, 2011 at 3:53am

You realise of course, if each of your atheist Americans convinced two American teens to see reason, this problem would not matter that much. So how many have you convinced in the last month ?

 

Permalink Reply by Nick Pecoraro on July 5, 2011 at 5:19pm

We seem to be heading towards a Plutocracy, rule by the very wealthy. It takes millions today to launch a campaign for office. That makes it almost impossible for a working man or woman to run for office.

In our system, the rich Republicans have formed an alliance with the Christian right in order to have the votes to win elections. In this system Atheists will have a tough time since Atheists will be the top of the Christian Right's enemies list. Who knows maybe they will be burning Heretics [Atheists] at the stake?

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on July 6, 2011 at 6:16am

Nick, Americans can launch campaigns for many thousands of offices.

The two best guarantees of winning are working to become known to voters and spending money to become known to voters.

Somewhere in the USofA, county dogcatcher is probably an elective office. A wise incumbent can make it a springboard to higher office.

 

Permalink Reply by Tom Sarbeck on July 6, 2011 at 6:07am

America has always been a plutocracy.

In the 1787 Convention, James Madison spoke words that in France a few years later, would have resulted in his being sent to the guillotine.

To read the words of America's founders, google Max Farrand's Records of the Federal Convention of 1787.

Here's what Madison recorded himself as having said on June 26:

In framing a system we wish to last for ages, we should not lose sight of the changes the ages will bring. An increase of population will increase the proportion who labor under all the hardships of life and secretly sigh for a more equal distribution of its blessings. These may in time outnumber those who are placed above feelings of indigence. According to the equal laws of suffrage, the power will slide into the hands of the former. No agrarian attempts have yet been made in this country, but symptoms of a leveling spirit have sufficiently appeared in certain quarters to give notice of the future danger. Landholders ought to have a share in the government, to support these invaluable interests and check the other. It ought to be formed as to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority.

 

Permalink Reply by big_dan44 on July 9, 2011 at 10:04am
I'm afraid that we are already moving too far in that direction. Even liberal Democrats aren't so "liberal" anymore. If they are, they risk being labeled as extremists by Fox News and their right-wing cronies. As a result, we are moving toward a right-wing based society and religion, unfortunately for us, is a GIANT part of that. Now they are making this Intelligent Design load of crap a part of children's CURRICULUM?!!! I can't believe these people want to raise a new generation of idiots!

What I don't understand is the hypocrisy in this country coming from the Christian right. They label Muslim governments in the Middle East as extremists, yet, in their perfect world, the US would be a Christian state. Last time I checked, Christians were blowing themselves up in Northern Ireland so extremism kinda goes with religion like, as Forrest Gump might say, "Peas and Carrots."

Those of us who don't have the wool over our eyes are already brow beaten to death, but in a Plutocracy, it might be worse for us.
Permalink Reply by FreeThinker on July 9, 2011 at 1:15pm

I'm not so sure that the violent extremism in Northern Ireland is the result of religion.  It may be correlated, but there are geopolitical and socio-economic reasons for the conflict as well.  The members of the two sides of the conflict don't always fit within the sectarian boundaries.  There are, occasionally, some Catholics who fight alongside the Protestants and vice-versa. 

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