The concept missing from this story is 'state capitalism'. People keep using the term 'oligarchy' but this is not the correct structure. It is not based on individual elite bad guys, but autonomous corporations. Remove one billionaire oligarch and five more will take his place.

'State capitalism' is very similar to fascism where the state and corporations work together to govern. The military industrial complex controls foreign policy. Healthcare corporations control medical access and science. Media corporations control information and knowledge. When the legacy media is controlled by corporations, citizens cannot get any information not tied to the government agenda. Democracy is not possible as the will of the people is corrupted by misinformation from the corporate media working with the state. Propaganda is actually more extensive and complete under state capitalism than under China's more authoritarian state.

This is why the Americans can't have nice things like, democracy, universal healthcare, climate change policy, and peace.