Who’s Running Things?

To quote Testing Theories’ authors (Martin Gilens of Princeton and Benjamin Page of Northwestern):

Who governs? Who really rules? To what extent is the broad body of U.S. citizens sovereign, semi-sovereign, or largely powerless?

The central point  …  is that economic elites and … groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while mass-based … groups and average citizens have little or no independent influence.

But despair not.  In the end, the authors offer hope:

Americans do[still] enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread … franchise.

Translation?  If campaigning for, and voter turnout in, elections employ these three principles vigorously, oligarchs have a fight on their hands.  Organized labor can and should be part of that fight.

To quote Mr. Miyagi off the Karate Kid film series: “Fighting not good.  But if must fight, win!”

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Michele Petrovsky is the Webmaster at Tools4Change, Author of “Cathedral or Bazaar?  Fix Higher Education – Teach by the Seat of Your Pants ,”  “Donkey Dharma,” and “Quick Guide to Linux.” Petrovsky resides in Glen Mills, Pa.

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