Breakdown:

1. Introduction: The Illusion of Democracy
   • Overview of how the American democratic system is often portrayed versus the reality of power structures.
   • Introduction to the concept of plutocracy, where governance is effectively controlled by the wealthy.
2. Early American Democracy: Voting Rights for the Few
   • Examination of early U.S. democracy, highlighting how voting was initially restricted to white male property owners.
   • Discussion on how this exclusion reflected the true nature of political power—reserved for the economic elite.
3. Expanding the Vote, Shrinking the Power
   • How the franchise gradually expanded to include all white males, then theoretically black men, and eventually women and Native Americans.
   • Analysis of how, as the right to vote expanded, real political power was intentionally distanced from the voting process.
4. The Role of Wealth in Early American Politics
   • Investigation into the wealth-based power structures during the first century of American democracy.
   • Insight into how property ownership and wealth were tied to political influence, creating a ruling class.
5. The Modern-Day Plutocracy: Rule of the Rich
   • Discussion on the shift of power over time as voting rights expanded but meaningful influence over policy continued to be concentrated among the wealthy elite.
   • Examination of the current political system, where corporate money and lobbying heavily influence governmental decisions.
6. The Voting Charade: Participatory Illusion
   • Exploration of how elections serve as a smokescreen, offering the public the illusion of participation.
   • How the wealthy elite manipulate this system to maintain control, while offering the masses symbolic power through voting.
7. Wealth vs. Representation: The Decline of Democratic Influence
   • Data on the declining influence of average voters compared to the rising power of wealthy individuals and corporations in shaping laws and policies.
   • Examination of campaign finance, lobbying, and the revolving door between government and big business.
8. A System Designed for Wealth Preservation
   • How the political and economic systems are designed to preserve the interests of the wealthy, from tax policies to corporate subsidies.
   • Analysis of how both major political parties serve the interests of the elite, despite populist rhetoric.
9. Conclusion: Democracy or Plutocracy?
   • A reflection on the nature of democracy in America, questioning whether it has ever truly existed.
   • Suggestions for how to move toward a more genuinely democratic system, while acknowledging the entrenched power of wealth.