Congratulations, new parents! Here in America we just survived the long, agonizing labor and delivery to dysfunctional divorced reality show parents of a bouncing new baby system of government. People are scrambling to describe the government that needs a Prince-like symbol as it’s formerly known as a democracy, with little input by the people. Trump seemed to admit the election was rigged by his Nazi-salutin billionaire aide Elon Musk.
If it’s not a democracy anymore, which we were warned about throughout the election process, but the American people (a 49.8 percent to 48.3 percent non-landslide) chose, what is it? The Guardian nicknamed it “The Broligarchy” back in November, and the now-famous photo of the world’s biggest tech titans at the inauguration sealed that nickname. What’s in a name? One person’s “gilded age” is another’s “monopolizing robber baron era.”
Even as Trump dismantels DEI programs citing a desire for a “meritocracy,” history shows, as Bishop Talbot Swan reminds us:
“America did not rise to greatness only because of merit. It was built on stolen land, cultivated by the forced labor of enslaved Africans and sustained through the systemic disenfranchisement of Black people, women and other marginalized groups. The wealth and infrastructure of this nation were erected on the backs of those denied the opportunity to succeed on their own merit. For centuries, laws, policies and societal norms were designed to privilege white men at the expense of everyone else, ensuring that the playing field was never even.”
There are many old-fashioned, menacing yet appropriate governmental terms, medieval though they might be, that our nation could use. Consider the entire list and choose your favorite. I guffawed in reading the only way America can perhaps now best be described:
Kakistocracy: government by the worst; the least suitable or competent citizens of a state.
The Economist made it their word of the Year for 2024, stating:
“Kakistocracy has the crisp, hard sounds of glass breaking. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on whether you think the glass had it coming. But kakistocracy’s snappy encapsulation of the fears of half of America and much of the world makes it our word of the year.”
There are less dramatic or entertaining things to consider calling our government in addition to a kakistocracy, or combine a few of these old-school hits with club soda and vodka to create a fizzy drink for four-year swilling.
Autocracy: government by one person with absolute power.
Bestiocracy: rule by beasts.
Demonarchy: rule by a demon.
Foolocracy: government by fools.
Idiocracy: 2006 Mike Judge film/concept/social satire that touches on issues including anti-intellectualism, commercialism, consumerism, dysgenics, voluntary childlessness, and overpopulation. Really has nothing to do with politics but has recently been invoked in a cross-pollination style.
Infantocracy: government by an infant.
Monocracy: government and political system based on the personal rule of an individual without a specific origin, legitimacy, or rules for exercising and transferring power. It can also take the form of a dictatorship exercised in the name of a republic or democracy, or in the name of the people.
Oligarchy: government by a few.
Plutocracy: government by the wealthy.
What you call the United States over the next four years is a choice. I wonder what Trump voters will say when egg and gas prices haven't gone down as promised.
