Trump's extreme oligarchy

Washington

US President-elect Donald Trump is filling his Cabinet with rich people. According to the latest count, his nominees include five billionaires and six multimillionaires. This is what is known as oligarchy: direct control of the state by people with substantial private economic power. Given that the Republicans also control both houses of Congress - and will soon make many judicial appointments - there is virtually no effective constraint on the executive branch.

In many instances - including the United States today - the initial reaction to such a government includes the hope that perhaps rich people will be good at creating jobs. They made themselves rich, goes the logic, so maybe they can do the same for the rest of us.