Kleptocracy? Democracy?

We at TPOL are far from the only people to disparage the standard reference to both the FedGov and the Fifty State governments as being “democracies.” But there is absolutely no argument that as time proceeds, more and more the American republics have deteriorated into democracies.

Too many people think that this is wonderful. “Majority rules!” “The voice of the people is the voice of God!” “Of the people, by the people, and for the people!” These and many more sayings are used to sell American children and newcomers on what a wonderful thing that democracy is. How perfect is democratic government?

Was Sir Winston Churchill, that mass-murdering imperialist and alcohol-dependent ne’er-do-well, right when he said “…democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time…”? (Actually, see the next commentary for more on this.)

We submit, as lovers of liberty, of believers in personal and economic liberty, personal responsibility, and most importantly, in God, that quote is absolutely wrong. At least when we limit “government” to human, mandatory, government. Which is what every nation and state on this planet currently “enjoys.”

There are of course many reasons that democracy is not an acceptable form of government.

Today, let us consider this: is there any difference between a democracy and a kleptocracy?

Obviously, “kleptocracy” is a far less-known name for a form of government than democracy or republic or monarchy.

So just what is is a kleptocracy? It is, we are told by wickedpedia and others, a “government with rulers that exploit the people and natural resources of their own territory in order to extend their personal wealth and political power. The word comes from the Greek: κλέπτης kléptēs, “thief”, or κλέπτω kléptō, “I steal”, and -κρατία -kratía from κράτος krátos, “power, rule”),

Now wait a minute, you might be saying, dear reader. Have you all there at TPOL lost it? How can you compare a good thing like democracy with something so evil as this? Go gah-gah much?

Because, in a democracy, theoretically the ruler(s) are “the people.” Or rather “THE PEOPLE.” And as democracy inevitably progresses from having a few elements of a republic (limited government and significant accountability) to the mob rule that characterizes its last dregs? The more the rulers (the people) exploit the people (even themselves) and natural resources and everything else in the jurisdiction of their “democratic government” specifically to extend their personal wealth (even if it is just more “bread and circuses” but everything else that can be looted (“legally” or not) and exploited. And of course, to give themselves, the voters under “universal suffrage” more and more political power: particularly to increase their ability to loot the producers.

This is not an unfortunate consequence. It is a built-in “benefit” to those who can (in the words of Communists) “be the vanguard of the proletariat” (and everyone else!).

History shows that the decline of even the most carefully crafted democracy into an increasingly greedy kleptocracy is very rapid. Some (the Weimar Republic comes to mind) start out that way. Every other one had deteriorated into a thieves’ rule. Oh yes, the “welfare” class is one of the type of people who get loot: free food, free housing, free education, and much else. But they are NOT, we say again, NOT, the only or biggest beneficiaries of the kleptocratic democracy.

No, those beneficiaries include several different groups.

The first group is of course the bureaucrats. The apparatchiks, the clerks, the thugs, the administrators. For every dime that goes to the poor and unemployed and handicapped, a dollar goes to the bureaucrats. Or to them and the contractors.

The second group? The politicians, of course. And those who pull their strings: their puppet masters. The politicians are not just officeholders, by the way. Not just “elected democratically.” No, they include the retired officeholders, whatever official perks they are showered with. It also includes the “non-governmental” politicians: the ward bosses and union hierarchy, the educational elite, the religious top layers, and of course, their families and proteges. Their puppet masters do not mind giving them a dribble of wealth here and there. What’s a few million dollars or even a few thousand ounces of gold or its equal. Those who command the politicians in and out of office have billions and billions. But most of all, they have the power to acquire more and more. Money and power.

Most people think of the politicians and those for whom they schill are the kleptocrats. But the reality is that democracy makes everyone corrupt kleptocrats: thieves and parasites on others. From the 1/10 of one percent at the very top to the 5-10% in the underclass.

We will look at a later time at that quote of Churchill, and also the myth of majority rule.

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Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/06/27/kleptocracy-democracy/