Growing income inequality and the power and influence that wealthy Americans exert on the policy choices of both political parties has seriously eroded confidence in the future of democracy. As this recent article published in Yale Law Review makes abundantly clear, no amount of political posturing or narrative spin can hide what is in plain sight. In particular, the highlights that voting rights are not enough and that what is urgently needed is forms of countervailing power, the ability of mass-membership organizations to give stronger political voice to citizens who lack the political influence that comes from wealth.
– David Thornley
“Indeed, public faith in American democracy is at near-record lows, and increasing numbers of Americans report that they no longer feel confident in the health of their democratic institutions. When asked why, many say that money has too much of an influence on politics and that politicians are unresponsive to the concerns of regular Americans. Research supports these fears, showing both that wealthy individuals are spending record sums on electoral politics and that elected officials are at best only weakly accountable to nonwealthy […]“
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