Our Government: is based upon a two party system and a very strong Middle Class

Why has our government been so successful in the 20th and 21st Centuries?

Because it has been a two party system "Republicans and Democrats" as checks and balances to each other.

The second basis of our government is a "Strong Middle Class".

However, right now we have neither a working two party system or a strong middle Class.

Because of this our government is in disarray and likely will remain so until some useful balance is achieved.

It is possible we are entering some "New Normal" never seen before.

It is possible that we are becoming an oligarchy.

"A nation of the rich, by the rich and for the rich"

So, thinking about all this during the 2016 election season coming up, we will either get better at being who we are or we likely will move towards becoming even more of a banana republic than we have since about 2001 or we could become a complete oligarchy.

One way to tell: What is the average income of the average House and Senate member?

If almost all of them are worth 1 million to 5 million dollars or more it is likely we have become an oligarchy.