Oligarchy Threatens Democracy in America

Thom Hartmann warns that the U.S. is on the path toward oligarchy and tyranny if citizens don't vote to defend democratic institutions.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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In this opinion piece, author Thom Hartmann argues that the United States is on the verge of transitioning from a democracy to an oligarchy controlled by a small group of ultra-wealthy individuals. Hartmann cites the influence of money in politics, attacks on voting rights, and the appointment of pro-corporate judges as evidence of this dangerous trend. He urges readers to vote for Democratic candidates in the upcoming election, even if they are not perfect, in order to preserve the democratic process and prevent the country from sliding into outright dictatorship.

Why it matters

Hartmann's warning highlights the fragile state of American democracy and the high stakes of the upcoming election. If the current trajectory toward oligarchy continues, it could fundamentally alter the nature of the U.S. political system, concentrating power in the hands of a small elite and undermining the will of the people. Preserving democratic norms and institutions is crucial for maintaining a government that is accountable to its citizens.

The details

Hartmann argues that the U.S. has been steadily moving toward oligarchy since the Reagan era, with the wealthy and powerful gaining outsized influence over the political process. He cites the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which allowed for unlimited political spending by corporations and wealthy individuals, as a key turning point. Hartmann also points to other factors, such as the erosion of labor unions, the consolidation of media ownership, and the appointment of pro-corporate judges, as evidence of this trend.

  • Hartmann says he had a conversation with former President Jimmy Carter 11 years ago, in which Carter warned that the U.S. had become an 'oligarchy' due to the influence of money in politics.
  • Hartmann argues that the danger of oligarchy has been growing for the past 44 years, since the start of the 'Reagan Revolution' in the 1980s.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who Hartmann says is aligned with oligarchy and has taken steps to undermine democratic institutions.

Jimmy Carter

The former president who warned Hartmann 11 years ago that the U.S. had become an 'oligarchy' due to the influence of money in politics.

Thomas Jefferson

The author of the Declaration of Independence, who Hartmann cites as defining democracy as 'governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.'

Jack London

The author who Hartmann quotes as describing oligarchs who 'own the Senate, Congress, the courts, and the state legislatures' and boast that 'We are the Iron Heel, and none can withstand us.'

Fritz Thyssen

A German industrialist in the 1930s who Hartmann says believed that turning Germany into a dictatorship would make him and other oligarchs even richer and more powerful.

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What they’re saying

“It [Citizens United] violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it's just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. … So now we've just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election's over.”

— Jimmy Carter, Former President (Thom Hartmann)

What’s next

Hartmann urges readers to vote for Democratic candidates in the upcoming election, even if they are not perfect, in order to preserve democratic institutions and prevent the country from sliding into outright dictatorship.

The takeaway

Hartmann's warning highlights the fragile state of American democracy and the high stakes of the upcoming election. Preserving democratic norms and institutions is crucial for maintaining a government that is accountable to its citizens and prevents the consolidation of power by a small elite.