# Who REALLY runs the US?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 25, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951 "2012-04-25T20:40:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/62 "2013-01-18T00:56:36Z")

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> [@Flyer](#):
>
> Assume for the sake of the argument that even half of what’s said about the Illuminati is true. There are PLENTY of ways that they could force obedience, even from somebody as powerful as the President.
> 
> For example–“Obey us or be killed.”

Illuminati: “You know our orders. Obey us or be killed.”

_\<The President hangs up the phone and dials another number\>_

President: “The Illuminati just phoned me. Have them killed.”

_\<President calmly hangs up phone and goes back to work\>_

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**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/63 "2013-01-18T03:09:30Z")

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They’re reptilian shape shifters, sure…but why _that_ shape?

Let’s see, there’s a lot of influential industries that basically run the country’s agenda: financial, insurance, the military-industrial complex, pharmaceutical, fossil fuels…missing anyone?

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**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/64 "2013-01-18T04:57:52Z")

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> [@M.Wilkinson](#):
>
> Funny. Actually America is controlled by whoever owns their debts.

So, the American people? That doesn’t sound right.

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**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/65 "2013-01-18T15:09:19Z")

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Last I heard the US was split between Time Warner, Disney, Wal-Mart, and Exxon Mobil.

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**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/66 "2013-01-18T15:14:25Z")

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> [@M.Wilkinson](#):
>
> Funny. Actually America is controlled by whoever owns their debts.

Only if America only owes them a million dollars. If America owes them a trillion dollars, _they_ have the problem. (I hear it’s the other way around in Soviet Russia.)

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/67 "2013-01-18T15:45:38Z")

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The Mice

And they don’t care if I tell you, because they know most people won’t believe. And those that do can’t do anything about it.

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**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/68 "2013-01-18T15:50:47Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Reptiles ain’t Kosher.  
> :rolleyes:

Of course, you don’t eat your own.

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**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/69 "2013-01-18T15:52:15Z")

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> [@Der\_Trihs](#):
>
> Illuminati: “You know our orders. Obey us or be killed.”
> 
> _\<The President hangs up the phone and dials another number\>_
> 
> President: “The Illuminati just phoned me. Have them killed.”
> 
> _\<President calmly hangs up phone and goes back to work\>_

You think the President knows who all the Illuminati are? Or that the number he dialed wasn’t answered by the Illuminati?

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/70 "2013-01-18T16:04:16Z")

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> [@FriarTed](#):
>
> You think the President knows who all the Illuminati are? Or that the number he dialed wasn’t answered by the Illuminati?

You are just posting to confuse us. Typical false-flag shape-shifter operation. :smack:

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-really-runs-the-us/619951/71 "2013-01-18T16:26:54Z")

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> [@FriarTed](#):
>
> You think the President knows who all the Illuminati are?

Sure. He’s the Antichrist after all; he knows everything.  
Did I mention that there was ominous Latin chanting in the background while he talked on the phone? I should have.

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