Oligarchy and Democracy, Jeffrey A. Winters, American Interest--Very good analysis

of the dysfunction in American politics.

"...democracy appears chronically dysfunctional when it comes to policies that impinge on the rich. Despite polls consistently showing that large majorities favor increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans, policy has been moving for decades in the opposite direction. Reduced taxes on the ultra-rich and the corporations and banks they dominate have shifted fiscal burdens downward even as they have strained the government’s capacity to maintain infrastructure, provide relief to children and the poor, and assist the elderly.

Everyone is by now aware of the staggering shift in fortunes upward favoring the wealthy. Less well understood is that this rising inequality is not the result of something economically rational, such as a surge in productivity or value-added contributions from financiers and hedge-fund CEOs, but is rather a direct reflection of redistributive policies that have helped the richest get richer.

Such outcomes are inexplicable on standard, commonly understood democratic grounds. The tiny proportion of wealthy actors among eligible voters cannot account for the immense political firepower needed to keep winning these policy victories. While motivated and mobilized minorities—those organized over issues like gay marriage, for example—can sometimes win legislative victories despite broad opposition from the electorate, America’s ultra-rich all together could barely fill a large sports stadium. They never assemble for rallies or marches, sign petitions, or mount Facebook or Twitter campaigns. So how do they so consistently get their way?"

Read and find out ;-)











http://www.the-american-interest.com/article.cfm?piece=1048

"The presence of wealth focuses the political attention of the rich on wealth defense; its absence has no parallel effect on the poor or those of middling or lower than middling income. Wealth is inherently empowering and motivating; poverty is neither."

capable of the unchallenged coordinated repetition to 50 mil a week.

democracy was designed to deal with money in politics but talk radio has made the dif the last 20 years with the ability to create made-to-order constituencies, create nationwide buzz madison ave would die for, and short circuit the feedback mechanisms democracies depend on.

all but a few of the current crop of GOP candidates are testament to this fact- they owe everything to limbaugh and talk radio for prechewing most of their lines for them.

just as palin was chosen as the bride of limbaugh, these candidates also ride the talk radio bandwagon.