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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders Attacks THIS Reality:
Who rules America?
By Allan J. Lichtman, contributor
"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.
The study also debunks the notion that the policy preferences of business and the rich reflect the views of common citizens. They found to the contrary that such preferences often sharply diverge and when they do, the economic elites and business interests almost always win and the ordinary Americans lose.
The authors also say that given limitations to tapping into the full power elite in America and their policy preferences, "the real world impact of elites upon public policy may be still greater" than their findings indicate.
Ultimately, Gilens and Page conclude from their work, "economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence."Or
Rich individuals and business interests have the capacity to hire the lobbyists that shadow legislators in Washington and to fill the campaign coffers of political candidates. Ordinary citizens are themselves partly to blame, however, because they do not choose to vote.
snip
Average Americans also have failed to deploy the political techniques used by elites. Political Action Committees (PACs) and super-PACs, for example, raise large sums of money to sway the outcome of any election in the United States. Although average Americans cannot match the economic power of the rich, large numbers of modest contributions can still finance PACs and super-PACs that advance our common interests.
If only they vote and organize, ordinary Americans can reclaim American democracy and challenge the politicians who still echo the view of old Vanderbilt that the public should be damned.
Lichtman is distinguished professor of history at American University in Washington.
By Allan J. Lichtman, contributor
"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.
The study also debunks the notion that the policy preferences of business and the rich reflect the views of common citizens. They found to the contrary that such preferences often sharply diverge and when they do, the economic elites and business interests almost always win and the ordinary Americans lose.
The authors also say that given limitations to tapping into the full power elite in America and their policy preferences, "the real world impact of elites upon public policy may be still greater" than their findings indicate.
Ultimately, Gilens and Page conclude from their work, "economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence."Or
Rich individuals and business interests have the capacity to hire the lobbyists that shadow legislators in Washington and to fill the campaign coffers of political candidates. Ordinary citizens are themselves partly to blame, however, because they do not choose to vote.
snip
Average Americans also have failed to deploy the political techniques used by elites. Political Action Committees (PACs) and super-PACs, for example, raise large sums of money to sway the outcome of any election in the United States. Although average Americans cannot match the economic power of the rich, large numbers of modest contributions can still finance PACs and super-PACs that advance our common interests.
If only they vote and organize, ordinary Americans can reclaim American democracy and challenge the politicians who still echo the view of old Vanderbilt that the public should be damned.
Lichtman is distinguished professor of history at American University in Washington.
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/civil-rights/214857-who-rules-america
So, WaPo argues in an Editorial that Bernie's agenda is an attack on reality. Yes, it is an attack on this reality: that we have lost our democracy. Ordinary citizens have NO voice. Only the wealthy have a voice in shaping national policy. We are just working stiffs with no capacity to influence policy. Bernie's program will change that.
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Bernie Sanders Attacks THIS Reality: (Original Post)
amborin
Feb 2016
OP
Know Thy Enemy - Oligarchs, Corporations, Banks And Their Pundits, Media Minions And MIC Henchmen
cantbeserious
Feb 2016
#1
And we're suppose to believe that campaign contributions have no effect on policy.
myrna minx
Feb 2016
#4
And THIS is why "we can't have nice things" - like health care & education &
bread_and_roses
Feb 2016
#9
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)1. Know Thy Enemy - Oligarchs, Corporations, Banks And Their Pundits, Media Minions And MIC Henchmen
eom
FreakinDJ
(17,644 posts)3. This is why HRC's pandering to Big Banks is such a BIG DEAL
and Fuck No the American people should not condone, over look this
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)5. Roger That
eom
LiberalLovinLug
(14,178 posts)11. Exactly
She has played her cards. She is all in with the status quo Wall Street criminals. I don't know how anyone can vote Hillary in the primaries, with someone like Bernie running.
Uncle Joe
(58,450 posts)2. Kicked and recommended.
Thanks for the thread, amborin.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)4. And we're suppose to believe that campaign contributions have no effect on policy.
Sanders is correct, we're not dumb.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)7. HRC Sneaks Into Fracking Industry Fundraiser
amborin
(16,631 posts)12. disgusting; this should be an OP
blm
(113,103 posts)8. Solid post…..
grazie. Solid arguments like this are more convincing and definitely a breath of fresh air amidst all the conspiracy clouds floating around here.
bread_and_roses
(6,335 posts)9. And THIS is why "we can't have nice things" - like health care & education &
& safe roads and bridges and a decent retirement and a living minimum wage and the right to organize without interference and family leave ....
You know, all that "free stuff" (hope I don't need sarcasm emoti) that most of the developed world takes for granted.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)10. Kicked and recommended to the Max!