If Gilens and Page are right and it is true that the will of the people is observed only in cases that do not matter to the rich and powerful, then all that work to gain voting rights was, in fact, futile.

The US has a closely managed "democracy." We vote. But it has about as much effect as the button at crosswalks. We can state our opinions, but they are monitored closely enough to chill fundamental change. Would you call that actual freedom?