There are four different forms of Democracy in our world today. Marxism is when the highest economic class controls the government. Elitism is when the people with the most popularity have power, and Bureaucratic Elitism means that elected officials have the most social and economic power. I feel that the fourth option, Pluralism, most accurately describes the form of democracy in America.
According to “Wilson’s Theories of Governance,” “Political resources, such as money, prestige, expertise, organizational position, and access to mass media, are so widely scattered in our society and in the hands of such a variety of persons that no single elite has anything like a monopoly on them.” A pluralistic democracy is more realistic in the sense that no one is overpowering in government or society. Pluralists believe that political resources are divided among a variety of elites that have the power to influence decisions. These divided elites must respond to the requests of their citizens. Decisions are usually made by bargaining, and the wants of the American citizens are represented in these decisions.
As Kelsey mentioned, thousands of protesters gathered to rally against white supremacy and for the removal of confederate monuments in New Orleans. President Trump disagreed with the decision to take down the statues, calling it “foolish” and “sad.” However he did not forbid their demise, and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu decided to have the statues removed. This action embodies that the elites, “... are responsive to their followers interests, and they provide representation to almost all the citizens affected by the policy” (“Wilson’s Theory of Governance”). This example represents a pluralistic democracy because the people are coming together to voice their political views and are influencing the decisions made by the government.
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