“America Is No Longer a Democracy — It’s Rule by the Rich, for the Rich,” Says Prominent Scholar Cornel West

In a blistering critique of the U.S. political system, author and civil rights activist Dr. Cornel West has declared that “America is not a democracy it’s rule by the rich, of the rich, for the rich,” reigniting national debate over the influence of wealth and power in American governance.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Democracy Now! Summit in New York City, West pulled no punches as he accused both major parties of being beholden to corporate interests, Wall Street billionaires, and political elites.

“What we have in America is not a government of the people,” West said. “It’s a money machine an oligarchy disguised as democracy. The rich write the rules, fund the candidates, and silence dissent with influence and power. Working people are just spectators.”

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The comments struck a chord online, quickly going viral amid growing frustration over income inequality, political gridlock, and record-breaking campaign donations from billionaires shaping the 2026 election cycle.

Recent reports show that a staggering 80% of political donations in the last year came from fewer than 1% of Americans mostly individuals and corporations with immense wealth. Meanwhile, policies affecting healthcare, housing, and climate change have repeatedly stalled or been watered down under intense lobbying pressure.

“This isn’t what the Founding Fathers had in mind,” said West. “You cannot have a genuine democracy when your politicians are bought and sold like commodities.”

Critics of West’s remarks dismissed them as hyperbolic and divisive, with some conservative voices accusing him of undermining public faith in the democratic process. Still, support continues to grow among young Americans and disenfranchised communities who feel left behind by the system.

Polls show that trust in U.S. democracy has plummeted to its lowest level in two decades, especially among Gen Z voters, many of whom are calling for campaign finance reform, term limits, and new forms of civic accountability.

As America barrels toward another high-stakes election, voices like Cornel West’s are becoming impossible to ignore. The question now is whether the system will change or whether, as many fear, democracy in America has already become a billionaire’s game.

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