The paper behind the Oligarchy Headlines

[Zeluvia]

http://www.princeton.edu/~mgilens/G...ens and Page 2014-Testing Theories 3-7-14.pdf

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, while mass-based interest groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence. Our results provide substantial support for theories of Economic Elite Domination and for theories of Biased Pluralism, but not for theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy or Majoritarian Pluralism.

It's a good read. Skip down to page Ten for the beginning of the nut and bolts, the data set, ect.

The appendices at the end have all the pretty tables and numbers


Democracy is Broke.

 

[ksen]

Unfortunately the system is working as intended.

 

[NobleSavage]

I've seen articles all over the internet about this. Thanks for link to the direct study.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The paper is correct.

Despite the seemingly strong empirical support in previous studies for theories ofmajoritarian democracy, our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actuallyhave little influence over thepolicies our government adopts.

Obama chastises the liberals for wanting liberal policies and the Republicans won't exterminate the illegal immigrants. Neither side gets what they want. And it isn't because we settle for a middle ground.

 

[SimpleDon]

I try to be optimistic. It is becoming harder everyday.

 

[Zeluvia]

watch continuum. if you can go from the first episode. it postulates a future with a corporate congress. not a corporate RUN congress, a literal governing body made up of representatives from large corporations, who vote for the president out of their own number.