Our Democracy Today Is Best Defined As Marxism 

By Rose Bannon-Woods

        When asked what type of government we live in today, most people would simply answer, a democracy. However there is much more to it then just- democracy. Four theories of democracy exist; Marxism, Elitism, Weber, and Pluralism. To briefly describe each; Marxism is the theory that money equals power, Elitism is the theory that the government and major corporations hold the power, Weber states that unelected officials have power, and finally Pluralism is the theory that groups of people work together to bargain and get policies. Although it can be argued that all of these theories of democracy describe our country's current form of government, I believe Marxism is the most arguable. The idea that money equals power is very prominent in our society. For example, it may be true that almost anyone can run for political office, but in order to run a campaign you need a significant amount of money. You could be the smartest and most suited person in the country to be President, but if you don't have the necessary funds to run, you'll never get anywhere. This is only one situation in which people with money end up with the power. Like the theory states, if you control America's economic system, then you control the political system as well. This goes back to our main point- money equals power. Another example of Marxism in our government is the fact that wealthier people generally get away with more. To elaborate, if you have money you are able to meet bond when arrested, afford expensive attorneys, and more. So, people with money are able to have more power in the way that they get more leeway. Also, when families have a significant amount of money, they receive better educations and are likely to get higher paying jobs, therefore giving them even more power and influence. Less fortunate people in average or lower classes do not receive the same opportunities that wealthy people do. This is one of the main reasons that money equals power in the United States.