If I’m not mistaken, residents can vote in local elections in many places.

I recall Taxi being very 90s as well!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxi_(1998_film)

Likely some form of secure/encrypted phone. There are special versions of phones made, not available to the general public.

Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. Frank Wilhoit

Well, the top 25 wealth hoarding dragons paid 13.6 billion in federal income taxes in a span of 5 years. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax
So you were likely only very mildly exaggerating that claim.
And before some class traitorboot-licker squeaks up about * the article looks at wealth which isn’t taxed, only income is taxed.* 1 that wasn’t the point & 2 you don’t need income when you have that kind of assets. But they built their wealth by massively benefiting from the society they pay so very little back to.

What democracy? The will of US citizens have practically no factor in which laws pass, big money on the other hand…

That being said, congressmen & president are somewhat democratically elected - and voting is thrice as influential if you’re in a low population state!.
So you can influence if big money A’s laws get passed, or big money C’s (big money B gets their way regardless).