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Princeton study: U.S. is an oligarchy
Posted on 4/16/14 at 9:36 am
Posted on 4/16/14 at 9:36 am
https://www.businessinsider.com/major-study-finds-that-the-us-is-an-oligarchy-2014-4
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded.
The report, entitled Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens, used extensive policy data collected from between the years of 1981 and 2002 to empirically determine the state of the US political system.
After sifting through nearly 1,800 US policies enacted in that period and comparing them to the expressed preferences of average Americans (50th percentile of income), affluent Americans (90th percentile) and large special interests groups, researchers concluded that the United States is dominated by its economic elite.
The peer-reviewed study, which will be taught at these universities in September, says: "The central point that emerges from our research is that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence."
Researchers concluded that US government policies rarely align with the the preferences of the majority of Americans, but do favour special interests and lobbying organizations: "When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover, because of the strong status quo bias built into the US political system, even when fairly large majorities of Americans favour policy change, they generally do not get it."
The positions of powerful interest groups are "not substantially correlated with the preferences of average citizens", but the politics of average Americans and affluent Americans sometimes does overlap. This merely a coincidence, the report says, with the the interests of the average American being served almost exclusively when it also serves those of the richest 10 per cent.
The theory of "biased pluralism" that the Princeton and Northwestern researchers believe the US system fits holds that policy outcomes "tend to tilt towards the wishes of corporations and business and professional associations."
The study comes in the wake of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, a controversial piece of legislation passed in The Supreme Court that abolished campaign contribution limits, and record low approval ratings for the US congress .
Posted on 4/16/14 at 9:40 am to PrimeTime Money
What's sad is many Americans buy into the lie that liberals are exempt from victimizing citizenry in this way. Whilst they are just as guilty as all brand of big government, special interest politicians. Sooner or later the Democrats' populist demagoguery charade they use to disguise their lies will be torn down by facts on the ground -- unless they can really clamp down on their vice grip on the media. At which point America is utterly fricked.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 9:40 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded.
quote:
Researchers concluded that US government policies rarely align with the the preferences of the majority of Americans, but do favour special interests and lobbying organizations: "When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose. Moreover, because of the strong status quo bias built into the US political system, even when fairly large majorities of Americans favour policy change, they generally do not get it."
Id say that is pretty spot on.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 9:49 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:they needed a study for this?
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens,
quote:This is what I disagree with.
instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful,
If "the rich" are running the show, they are doing it wrong. I think it's pretty clear that the minority government is serving best are those mooching off the rich.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 9:51 am to PrimeTime Money
I'm interested in these countries where the rich and powerful are not the actual or de facto leaders of the nation.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 10:03 am to PrimeTime Money
If this study were true, we wouldn't have 47% of our population paying NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX.
Our democracy is run by the recipients of government wealth redistribution, because that's how our politicians are buying their votes, not with campaign funding.
Our democracy is run by the recipients of government wealth redistribution, because that's how our politicians are buying their votes, not with campaign funding.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 10:07 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded.
Well Princeton would know academia is the same way.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 10:20 am to PrimeTime Money
The funny part isn't their conclusion. It's that I'd bet dollars to donuts that the majority if not all of the people involved in the study think voting for democrats will solve the problem!!
Posted on 4/16/14 at 10:26 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens
This is the downfall of America right there.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 10:28 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful,
And being among the rich and powerful, themselves, "justices" Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito have zero problem with that.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 10:55 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded.
Water is wet.
It's only going to get worse with these damaging SCOTUS rulings over the last few years. The republic is ostensibly dead.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 11:09 am to PrimeTime Money
Good, because the average US voter doesn't know a damn thing about what is good for the country.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 11:11 am to PrimeTime Money
Of course it is. Election campaigns are expensive, so you have to be wealthy to begin with, or willing to whore yourself out to special interests to finance your election. Once in power, you rig the game to your benefit or the benefit of the money brokers who paid your way. Any show of backbone will have your opponent financed and you sent back home. And I don't see a way to change it honestly.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 11:23 am to PrimeTime Money
quote:
The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens,
I am actually pretty glad about that. I have met the "average" American. the average ain't that great.
quote:
Researchers concluded that US government policies rarely align with the the preferences of the majority of Americans,
I think a "representative republic" is better than a straight democracy.
Now, I despise the asshats. But, I am afraid of just how pathetic we would be IF the "policies aligned with the majority".
Posted on 4/16/14 at 12:14 pm to PrimeTime Money
Duh as far as the US being an oligarchy. Anyone who doesn't think money runs the country and policy is delusional.
Posted on 4/16/14 at 5:51 pm to PrimeTime Money
quote:
Princeton study: U.S. is an oligarchy
Why do a study? It's no surprise. The ones who loan the money to our government dominate our policies and control both major political parties. And our entire monetary system operates on debt. It's been designed that way for the past 100 years.
It's that simple.
This post was edited on 4/16/14 at 7:27 pm
Posted on 4/17/14 at 7:16 am to PrimeTime Money
Hasn't America always been an Oligarchy? A few of the players might have changed, but the wealthy have always pulled the strings.
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