Professors Martin Gilens (Princeton University) and Benjamin I. Page (Northwestern University) looked at more than 20 years worth of data to answer a simple question: Does the government represent the people?
Their study took data from nearly 2000 public opinion surveys and compared it to the policies that ended up becoming law. In other words, they compared what the public wanted to what the government actually did. What they found was extremely unsettling: The opinions of 90% of Americans has essentially no impact at all.
This video gives a quick rundown of their findings — it all boils down to one simple graph:
Princeton University study: Public opinion has “near-zero” impact on U.S. law.
Gilens & Page found that the number of Americans for or against any idea has no impact on the likelihood that Congress will make it law.
“The preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy.”
One thing that does have an influence? Money. While the opinions of the bottom 90% of income earners in America have a “statistically non-significant impact,” Economic elites, business interests, and people who can afford lobbyists still carry major influence.
Nearly every issue we face as a nation is caught in the grip of corruption.
From taxation to national debt, education to the economy,America is struggling to address our most serious issues. Moneyed interests get what they want, and the rest of us pay the price.
They spend billions influencing America’s government. We give them trillions in return.
In the last 5 years alone, the 200 most politically active companies in the US spent $5.8 billion influencing our government with lobbying and campaign contributions.
Those same companies got $4.4 trillion in taxpayer support — earning a return of 750 times their investment.
It’s a vicious cycle of legalized corruption.
As the cost of winning elections explodes, politicians of both political parties become ever more dependent on the tiny slice of the population who can bankroll their campaigns.
To win a Senate seat in 2014, candidates had to raise $14,351 every single day. Just .05% of Americans donate more than $10,000 in any election, so it’s perfectly clear who candidates will turn to first, and who they’re indebted to when they win.
revolution time
ReplyDeleteWhenever the American government uses the word "democracy", it's OK to laugh. It's OK to laugh at jokes. As a matter of fact, it's expected! Are we so dumbed down, we don't even recognize a joke when we hear it?
ReplyDeleteHere's another joke. If you take the time to vote in our corrupt elections, you can change things. Get it?
- probably not ...
Congress literally doesn't care what we think? Duh, really? I never would've guessed it had I not read about this study.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of an honest congressman is someone who will sell himself and stay bought.
ReplyDeleteCongress is like a Bollywood production with all the character actors filling in and a laugh track. Soon we will get reports on what they wear and how big there butts are!
ReplyDeleteGonna post on "my" Congressman's facebook page----nothing will change but we all try.
ReplyDeleteVOTE THIRD PARTY ......... VOTE so they know you care .... but NOT for them
ONE party .... TWO names ............ Democan/Republicrat....
They are not even PRETENDING ...... They are RUBBING IT in your FACES ................
"daddy" Bush has been BFF with Billy Clinton for decades.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/12/05/george-w-bush-hillary-clinton-is-like-my-sister-in-law/
George W. Bush: Hillary Clinton is like ‘my sister-in-law’ By Jose A. DelReal December 5 at 10:16 AM
Former President Bush has spoken at length about his close ties to former President Bill Clinton, at times calling him his "brother from another mother."
CNN's Candy Crowley asked Bush during an interview published Friday where that leaves Hillary Clinton: "My sister-in-law!" the president responded light-heartedly.
A vote for a BUSH is a vote for a CLINTON
God how I'd love to see these bastards in an honest criminal court! Real adjectives for this scum have yet to be invented!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish that I was still in a state of ignorance rather than driving myself silly in the knowledge that with the law designed like an impenetrable wall we are made so frustratingly impotent.
With the absolute sell-out of the influential media, combined with most of our institutions, every government is now so on top of any effective organised backlash or dissension that, with labels like ''terrorists'' or ''national security'' being liberally used to instantly shut down or demonize anyone and anything exposing truth, we are but a handful of Bills away from total subservience.
The people have suffered betrayal for far too long.
Sadly, without another Gandhi and a united populace we are a breath away from serfdom and there will be no rescue.
There is only one way, short of armed insurrection, to influence government- bite the hands that feeds them- the banks and corporations. Effective immediately, refuse to pay back loans of any type; ignore student loans, mortgages, credit card statements, etc. Void the malls and shop second-hand stores, yard sales, and Craigslist. Deal only with small and family-owned businesses. Pay cash. Steel yourself for the consequences of bad credit by being a good patriot.
ReplyDeleteBTW, We're supposed to have a constitutional republic in this country, where each person is guaranteed inalienable rights. Democracy is mob rule, where 51% of the people decide how the other 49% will live. If we're going to fight for something worthwhile, make it the former, not the latter.
ReplyDeleteWords that don't go together - honest - criminal - court. Unless you're talking a Common law court. Courts a banking courts, courts of commerce where a fine (currency in general) seems to clear up the problem. I think what you may mean is a good ol down home lynch'in! type of court situation... maybe.
ReplyDelete