Summary

The key to defeating oligarchy is democracy; to Sanders, “democracy is about one person, one vote” (185). He uses the first section of this chapter to tell the history of America’s turbulent struggle with real democracy. Various groups have been denied civil rights including the right to vote throughout American history, such as women, blacks, and the poor. Sanders argues that America could not be truly democratic until it put the vote in the hands of all its citizens. Black suffrage, women’s suffrage, banning the poll tax, and lowering the voting age were all pivotal moments in America’s stride toward democracy for all.

Sanders is clear that big money has no place in a democratic government. His first reference to oligarchs in this chapter is in describing wealthy elites and their seemingly successful attempts to buy the American government. A small...