The oligarchs and elites controlling and destroying democracy are a big topic in the minds of young people. But who is really the biggest “threat to democracy?”
“I think it’s the highest bidder that has control in America,” said Bill on downtown Salt Lake City’s Main Street.
Bernie, AOC, and the Oligarchy Debate
Bernie Sanders and AOC visited Utah on their “oligarch tour.” Bernie repeated the mantra he’s stuck to for the past two decades: that the oligarchy is destroying America and undermining democracy. According to him, the top one percent of Americans own fifty percent of the land and wealth—and control far more decision-making power than the 99% below them.
Sanders’ diagnosis is accurate. He has long criticized Big Pharma’s price gouging and the military-industrial complex. But Sanders believes more government control—not less—is the solution. And herein lies the divide in our country.
Elites—from Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller to today’s billionaires—have always influenced political leadership. But let’s face it: today, elites may hold more sway over our leaders than ever. So maybe it would be a better idea to vote for elites instead of politicians.
Which Elites Should We Fear Most?
So who are the real power players?
On the left, we have figures like George Soros, Klaus Schwab, and Bill Gates—representatives of the Davos globalist elite. On the right, a newer crop of elites includes Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Peter Thiel, the Koch brothers, and tech giants like Larry Ellison. (Zuckerberg and Bezos don’t quite fit; they only seemed to lean right after Trump’s victory.)
We hit the streets of downtown Salt Lake City to hear what working-class locals had to say about who really controls politics and government. The results? Nearly everyone agreed the elites control our government far more than our elected officials.
Even more surprising: about three-quarters of respondents believed the Soros/Gates faction is more dangerous than the Trump/Musk camp.
This was unexpected, especially since nearly 10,000 people recently gathered at Utah’s State Capitol on April 5th as part of the national “Hands Off” protest. Protesters held signs accusing Elon Musk of being a Nazi and Trump of being a fascist dictator.
Financial Power and Media Influence
Thomas, a financial worker on Main Street, said he believes Soros and the Israel lobby wield enormous influence in Washington, D.C.
The Utah Stories podcast has reported that Soros funds a significant portion of the media, giving generous stipends to journalists through MoveOn.org and OpenSocieties.org. Can reporters remain objective if 80% of their ad revenue comes from Big Pharma—and the 54 most prominent media figures have financial ties to Soros? (Source: Media Research Center)
It seems Americans are more polarized than ever, and the real divide may come down to what universe of information people live in.
No One Knows Who to Trust
Christopher told us he doesn’t know what to believe anymore. “All of the attacks against Trump and Musk originate from the left-leaning media, and all the attacks on the left come from right-leaning sources. How are you supposed to know the truth?”
Then there’s Bill, a construction worker in PPE, who said he’s working and saving every dollar so he can leave the U.S. for Southeast Asia. Bill predicts a civil war.
“I would like to hope that America could become great again, but I honestly don’t foresee that happening,” he said.
“They don’t have all that we have here, but it’s all about community and love.”
Perspective from Abroad
Three women visiting from Vietnam told us that America still has less corruption and more democracy than Vietnam.
So, is America more corrupt than Asia? That depends on who you ask.
Will George Soros and the Davos elites control the future of Western civilization? Or will Trump, Musk, and Joe Rogan shape a more libertarian vision?
No one can say for certain. But it’s my hope that we can learn to talk to people on both sides of this divide—so that meaningful debate, logic, and critical thinking can replace violence and cancel culture.
