Who rules America?

[n2doc]

"The public be damned!"
— William H. Vanderbilt, railroad magnate, 1882

A shattering new study by two political science professors has found that ordinary Americans have virtually no impact whatsoever on the making of national policy in our country. The analysts found that rich individuals and business-controlled interest groups largely shape policy outcomes in the United States.

This study should be a loud wake-up call to the vast majority of Americans who are bypassed by their government. To reclaim the promise of American democracy, ordinary citizens must act positively to change the relationship between the people and our government

The new study, with the jaw-clenching title of "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens," is forthcoming in the fall 2014 edition of Perspectives on Politics. Its authors, Martin Gilens of Princeton University and Benjamin Page of Northwestern University, examined survey data on 1,779 national policy issues for which they could gauge the preferences of average citizens, economic elites, mass-based interest groups and business-dominated interest groups. They used statistical methods to determine the influence of each of these four groups on policy outcomes, including both policies that are adopted and rejected.

The analysts found that when controlling for the power of economic elites and organized interest groups, the influence of ordinary Americans registers at a "non-significant, near-zero level." The analysts further discovered that rich individuals and business-dominated interest groups dominate the policymaking process. The mass-based interest groups had minimal influence compared to the business-based interest groups.



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/civil-rights/214857-who-rules-america

[malaise]

1. Nnice to see them finally waking up after Parenti et al presented the facts

decades ago.

[world wide wally]

2. I could have told you that

a long time ago.

[Scuba]

3. Why did they need a study?

[Romulox]

4. But we take it one step further--we castigate the hoi polloi for both how things are now,

as well as for the crimes of the past. Especially here on DU.

[Bettie]

5. I thought everyone already knew this

I vote, but I know in my heart that my vote doesn't matter.

[Bragi]

6. Let's try to be a bit less sanctimonious here

"I knew that. Who needs a study"

"I could have told you that. What a waste of time"

Etc.

Folks, these researchers have published a huge study, based on real evidence, that confirms what we believe to be the case. That is a good thing for us.

We should therefore welcome and encourage this kind of research, not claim that it is of no importance because we already agreed with its conclusions.

We should leave that kind of dismissal of empirical evidence to the GOP-PTB, who are desperate to trash any research that contradicts their counter-factual, ideological world view.

Please and thank you.

- B

[840high]

7. Money rules.

[Trillo]

8. It reminds me of compulsory education.

Some of us said "No no no no no...," but we were forced to go anyway. It's curious to overlay the "default position is no" of the recent rape discussions, with the idea that even when we say "No" to our financial elites, business, lobbying, and corruption continues as usual.

[melm00se]

9. The question is

(and the answer might shatter some illusions): Did ordinary Americans ever have impact on making national policy?

[Martin Eden]

10. Bookmarked. n/t