For at least the past 20 years I've been saying that we are "a somewhat democratic plutocracy." First time I said that was an undergraduate history class. The prof was comparing different countries forms of government, referred to us as a democracy, noticed I was shaking my head violently "no" and asked me, "We're not a democracy? Then what are we?" My reply was the same as above. He thought about it a few seconds, starting nodding and said, "Yeah, ... okay, I'll buy that." It was 1983 or 1984. ;0)