Bob Herbert wrote the column When Democracy Weakens in The New York Times. My friend MardyS brought this to my attention by posting it on his Facebook wall.

A few brief parts of paragraphs from the article follow:

As the throngs celebrated in Cairo, I couldn’t help wondering about what is happening to democracy here in the United States. I think it’s on the ropes. We’re in serious danger of becoming a democracy in name only.

and

It doesn’t really matter what ordinary people want. The wealthy call the tune, and the politicians dance.

As I have watched the revolution in Egypt unfold, I have heard the journalists tell about the leaders of other Middle Eastern countries and how worried they are that this sort of thing would spread to their countries.

I have been wondering how nervous the leaders of the USA might be.

Maybe the Tea Party members will revolt against the raw deal that the rich people in this country are getting.  The rest of us might revolt against the raw deal the rich people in this country are giving to the rest of us.