We live in an age where people don't even know what oligarchy means...it's a term made popular again by politicians--the very politicians that are part of the oligarchy. It doesn't mean just the rich, it means a small power base that rules without check for a very long time. Look at Congresspeople who linger in the chambers for 50+ years. Look at the SCOTUS, who can serve from mid-life until death. They are the oligarchy.