It’s always been an oligarchy, but mostly because people let it be an oligarchy. Voting works… when you do it. That’s what’s enabled people like Trump to grab power, people voted for them.
It’s not the only answer, but it’s the single simplest and easiest way for most people to effect change on the world around them. Which makes it surprising just how many people refuse to do it.
The difference being we do know who they are and why they’re doing it, it’s just our leaders aren’t doing enough to stop them because of “The Economy”.