That is neoliberal democracy in a nutshell: trivial debate over minor issues by parties that basically pursue the same pro-business policies regardless of formal differences and campaign debate. Democracy is permissible as long as the control of business is off-limits to popular deliberation or change; i.e. so long as it isn't democracy.
Noam Chomsky's work, "Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order," critiques the nature of contemporary democracy as it's practiced under neoliberalism. He argues that political parties engage in superficial debates over trivial matters while fundamentally promoting similar pro-business agendas. This suggests that the real substance of policy is largely predetermined, limiting genuine democratic discourse and choice.
Chomsky highlights that while democracy may be allowed, it is constrained by the necessity to keep business interests shielded from public scrutiny and input. In essence, he argues that true democracy is compromised when economic power goes unchecked, thereby undermining the very foundations of democratic engagement and decision-making.
