Asking "[w]ho really rules?" researchers Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page argue that over the past few decades America's political system has slowly transformed from a democracy into an oligarchy, where wealthy elites wield most power.
Using data drawn from over 1,800 different policy initiatives from 1981 to 2002, the two conclude that rich, well-connected individuals on the political scene now steer the direction of the country, regardless of or even against the will of the majority of voters.
"The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy," they write, "while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence."
Using data drawn from over 1,800 different policy initiatives from 1981 to 2002, the two conclude that rich, well-connected individuals on the political scene now steer the direction of the country, regardless of or even against the will of the majority of voters.
"The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy," they write, "while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence."
Yup, Oprah, Gates, Buffet, Ellison and their ilk are definitely running the country into the ground.
ReplyDeleteorlin sellers
trump
ReplyDeleteA misspelling of "Bloomberg"?
No, in addition to Bloomberg. There're also the Koch brothers.
Delete"Using data drawn from over 1,800 different policy initiatives from 1981 to 2002, the two conclude that rich, well-connected individuals on the political scene now steer the direction of the country, regardless of or even against the will of the majority of voters."
ReplyDeletePerhaps we should also throw in the Bloomberg tag also Mike. However, it comes down to the legislative process on this issue since the voters decide ultimately who gets to stay in office.
Yet SS tells us it's people speaking, not money, laughable and naive.
ReplyDeleteThe NRA can get anything passed, I wonder why they don't push gun safety laws they claim to agree with? They push open carry, not safe storage, or safe gun handling.
So no comment on the fact that the US never was a democracy? We are a Constitutional Republic. If the government would simply follow the Constitution then all of this would self correct on its own.
ReplyDeleteIt was never a democracy as it has always been and still is a representative republic.
ReplyDeleteAnd Princeton is just one figuring that out?