Pay-to-play happens in every single society. The bigger the government, the more benefit there is in engaging in this behaviour.

Corruption of some form usually exists in every society but this form is something a bit special.

r > g means that the power accumulates at a geometric rate without countervailing forces.

What this means is that capitalism requires an exceptionally tight leash to not spin out of control. The mere presence of voting isnt enough.

It's hard to know what you're saying here. What is "spin out of control" and why do you think it isn't addressed by competition and regulation?

I'm saying that when it comes to regulation the sausage is mostly shaped by the same monopolists you naively assume it would protect us from.

And capital has a tendency to kill off competition you assume will just appear and magically take over.

It's not assumed, that's the objective of state: To create a sustainable and consumer-oriented market through regulation and incentives.

This is again, a feelings-based assumption. States do not behave according to this goal.

> This is again, a feelings-based assumption

What feelings are you talking about?

It's not a feelings based assumption, it's the role of liberal democratic states determined by the basic principles of democracy. That the states do not fulfill their role is their own fault.

> Capitalism is the engine behind the pay-to-play nature of the political processes and the supporting propaganda that triggers those failures.

No it's not. Greed is. Corruption happens everywhere, and as ever, a Communist state where government is far more powerful will be more corruptible.