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.
TPM Interview: Scholar Behind Viral ‘Oligarchy’ Study Tells You What It Means
“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.” (emphasis added)
As one illustration, Gilens and Page compare the political preferences of Americans at the 50th income percentile to preferences of Americans at the 90th percentile as well as major lobbying […]
Here in Canada, studying the American model of democracy, we were told that it is a very equal system, because everyone has the potential to be president. Barry is an example that even a man of colour could become president. The only serious difficulty with this equality proposition, is that there is only one president.
We certainly have a “democracy in California.”. (recent quote from Senator Jerry Hill, Dem.)…….all the poor and illegals are lobbying and voting and influencing the electorate so that taxes and bond issues are strangling the homeowners….and,.as our governor, Jerry Brown, said…it’s either go on the dole or move. The “average homeowner” who sweat blood and tears to afford a home is being driven out by “democratic voting”……particularly the elderly on fixed income. A tragic state!