Joe Biden's farewell warning: Oligarchy threatens democracy

"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." – Louis D. Brandeis

In a farewell address yesterday, President Joe Biden warned Americans about the rise of oligarchy. He described a dangerous concentration of wealth, power, and influence that poses an existential threat to democracy.

From Biden’s speech:

I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous — and that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultrawealthy people, and the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked. Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead. We see the consequences all across America. And we’ve seen it before.

More than a century ago, the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts. They didn’t punish the wealthy. They just made the wealthy play by the rules everybody else had. Workers want rights to earn their fair share. You know, they were dealt into the deal, and it helped put us on the path to building the largest middle class, the most prosperous century any nation the world has ever seen. We’ve got to do that again.

Framing oligarchy

I wish Biden had focused on this issue earlier. Along with the destruction of our climate, the destruction of our democracy by the wealthy few is the most consequential issue we face. In fact, the most challenging problems of the 21st century stem from the fact that a handful of greedy individuals and corporations have chosen to sacrifice the public good for their own private profit. Exhibit A: Fossil fuel corporations, which remain intent on forcing us to burn their destructive products even though they are overheating the planet and harming all life on Earth.

Then there's Elon Musk, who spent $277 million on Trump's campaign and is now acting as co-president, with plans to destroy whichever parts of government he doesn't like. All because he's rich! Musk is a textbook case of oligarchy and/or plutocracy.

Yet I have to wonder: Do most people know what the words "oligarchy" and "plutocracy" mean? We'll be hearing both terms a lot in the next few years. But both are Greek words that – unlike their linguistic cousin, democracy – probably aren't well-known to most Americans. Oligarchy means "rule by the few" or "control by a powerful elite." Plutocracy means "rule by the rich." Both terms describe systems in which the government serves a small minority rather than the vast majority.

An oligarchy is a system where a small group of influential people controls a country. Oligarchs maintain power through wealth, family ties, corporate influence, and/or military strength. Oligarchies can exist within various political systems, including democracies. Their defining feature is that major decisions primarily benefit a powerful minority. It's a system in which the government serves the interests of a corrupt few, leaving everyone else behind.

A government run for the benefit of a wealthy elite affects every aspect of American life – wages, housing, healthcare, and education. It warps the rules to favor the few at the expense of the many. It is the enemy of freedom, justice, equality, and every other value that Americans hold dear.

In 2019, a poll found that 81% of Americans believe wealthy people have "too much sway" over government. In 2020, a poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe the economy is rigged to benefit certain groups. With Musk and his billionaire "broligarch" buddies preparing to seize control of our government, this seems like a ripe political issue. We must frame the problem in clear, relatable, and emotionally powerful terms to build a moral and compelling counter-narrative.

Here are some ideas to do just that:

Speak in Plain Terms

"Oligarchy" is a good starting point, but it may not be the right term to use for maximum impact. Instead, we need plain English terms to describe this bold corruption and its threat to our democracy. "Rule by the rich" or "billionaire-controlled government" are basic examples. Never use the word "oligarchy" without briefly and clearly saying what it is, as Biden did in his speech.

Similarly, avoid academic phrases like "concentration of capital" or "economic stratification." Instead, say concrete things like "a few are getting richer while a majority struggle to pay their bills." It's crucial to relate abstract concepts to everyday experiences. Talk about food and rent costs that keep going up while wages stay the same – but billionaires get richer. Talk about billionaires who slash critical social programs for the poor while lining their pockets with billions in tax cuts. Highlight the unfairness of billionaires paying lower tax rates than teachers or nurses. Concrete examples can bridge the gap between policy discussions and real-life impacts.

Make it clear that the system is being rigged to benefit a wealthy few. Most people already know this. Remind them. Constantly.

Make a Moral Argument

All politics are moral politics, and people respond to values more than facts alone. Frame the issue in moral terms. Rule by the rich is a betrayal of the American promise of democracy, fairness, and opportunity.

Say it plainly. "It's wrong for a handful of billionaires to have more wealth than millions of hardworking families combined" and "It's morally corrupt for billionaires to run the government for their own benefit," etc.

Frame the problem in terms of moral right and wrong, not just statistics or policy debates. Remember: "People don't necessarily vote their self-interest ... they vote their values." Make it about values!

Frame the Stakes

As Biden said, oligarchy threatens democracy. Concentrated wealth leads to concentrated power, which weakens the power of the people. When billionaires and corporations write the rules, ordinary citizens lose. The United States is supposed to have a government of, by, and for the People – not a government of, by, and for billionaires.

Frame the stakes in existential terms, as former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis did when he said: "We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."

This is a freedom issue. As Dr. George Lakoff put it in The ALL NEW Don't Think of An Elephant: “As the share of the nation’s wealth going to the wealthy rises, the share going to everyone else falls. What else falls? The freedom that wealth can buy, the quality of life that wealth can buy, the power that wealth can buy, and the electoral influence that wealth can buy. Technically, we may still have one person, one vote. But the effect of one person on elections has gone way down.”

Create Heroes and Villains

Narratives need characters. In the story of American democracy, greedy billionaires and their enablers are the villains. Elon Musk is setting himself up to be perhaps the most despised man in America. He is making it clear that he bought himself a presidency, and most Americans will view this bold corruption with moral outrage. We all know the archetype of the scheming rich person, a fat cat (or corporate power) that uses their power, resources, and influence to manipulate systems for personal gain, often at the expense of fairness, justice, or the well-being of others. The idea is already framed in our brains, waiting for activation.

The heroes in this story will be those who protect democracy by serving the people and halting the hostile billionaire takeover of our government. Note to Democratic Party leaders: It's your job to kick billionaire ass, not kiss it.

Offer a Pro-Democracy Vision

Don't just frame the problem – frame solutions, too. Pair the problem with a positive vision. Propose major changes to ensure fair taxes, protect workers' rights, break up monopolies, and prevent billionaires from buying off the government.

Paint a picture of a prosperous society where wealth serves everyone, not just a chosen few. Use aspirational language: "We can build a country where every family gets a fair shake." Give people a better choice.

Dr. Robert Reich, the former U.S. Secretary of Labor and an expert on economic inequality, offers these sharp suggestions:

When we the people regain power, three reforms are critically necessary to begin to tame the oligarchy:

1. X, Amazon, Meta, and other giant tech media platforms must either be busted up or treated as public utilities, responsible to the public.

2. Hugely wealthy individuals must not be permitted to own critical media.

3. Large accumulations of individual wealth must be taxed.

Use Historical Examples to Inspire Action

Biden's speech mentioned the "robber barons" of the 19th and 20th century who corrupted government until a massive public backlash curtailed their power. History is full of examples like this. The oppressed majority rises and defeats the wealthy few over and over again.

Such stories are important because they remind people of their power and agency, and they provide models for victory. "We've faced powerful elites before and won. We can do it again—but only if we stand together." Encourage engagement: voting, organizing, and holding leaders accountable. History provides a blueprint for how we defeat the tyranny of the rich. Use these stories to inspire action that turns frustration into momentum.

Keep It Simple, Emotional, and Consistent

The most effective frames are memorable and emotionally charged. Instead of saying "addressing structural inequality," say "stop the rigging the system for the rich." Instead of "redistributing wealth," say, "make the rich pay their fair share." Find strong metaphors and phrases to hammer home the message. "It's hard to hear the voice of the people when money does all the talking."

Words matter. Let's choose the ones that stick.

Once we have the frames, stories, and words, it's important to repeat them constantly! Repetition is the key to communication because it changes brains. The story of how an ultra-wealthy few are rigging everything in their own favor must become the central theme of our politics. If we don't keep telling the story and showing how it relates to every problem we face, the message won't get through.

A Battle for the Soul of Democracy

These are some preliminary ideas for framing oligarchy in clear terms that connect with Americans on an emotional and moral level. Hopefully, someone with the resources to conduct deep polling and focus groups will identify the most effective frames and words to use. We need clear messages that can be repeated constantly until they become "common sense" in the brains of American voters.

The fight against billionaire control of our government is a fight for the soul of American democracy. With clear, moral, and actionable language, we can create a majority movement to return power where it belongs – with the people.

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