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In high school gov class they taught us that Iran was a theocracy. Not because they lacked democratic rituals, but because religious leaders got to vet all of the candidates. "You can have any color car you want so long as it is black."

I look at the campaign finance process in the US and I see a vetting process for compatibility with the interests of the wealthy. There are still a few small donors in there and every once in a blue moon a candidate can mount something approaching a grassroots campaign, so the US is one drop of poison short of a plutocracy, but only one drop short.

It's even more confronting because folks from Saudi Arabia literary own many of the outlets, products and services available in western countries.

America is a global super power. Red vs. Blue has real life consequences for many people in other parts of the world.

Has "stop supporting the Gulf absolute monarchies" even been part of any presidential debate?

Well you have to start by asking why lot of people's identity is tied to wealth accumulation, status accumulation and conspicuous consumption?

Bingo