STUDY: Government Listens To Elites, Lobbyists – Not Average Citizens

Considering the study is about US politics, I think US political madness is the right forum to put it. Although possibly the situation is somewhat similar everywhere, although US I do believe the political influence of the wealthy is higher than in most other advanced nations.

When organized interest groups or economic elites want a particular policy passed, there’s a strongly likelihood their wishes will come true. But when average citizens support something, they have next to no influence.
That’s according to a forthcoming article in Perspectives on Politics by Martin Gilens of Princeton University and Benjamin I. Page of Northwestern University. The two looked at a data set of 1,779 policy issues between 1981 and 2002 and matched them up against surveys of public opinion broken down by income as well as support from interest groups.

They estimate that the impact of what an average citizen prefers put up against what the elites and interest groups want is next to nothing, or “a non-significant, near-zero level.” They note that their findings show “ordinary citizens…have little or no independent influence on policy at all.” The affluent, on the other hand, have “a quite substantial, highly significant, independent impact on policy,” they find, “more so than any other set of actors” that they studied. Organized interest groups similarly fare well, with “a large, positive, highly significant impact on public policy.”

When they hold constant the preferences of interest groups and the rich, “it makes very little difference what the general public thinks,” they note. The probability that policy change occurs is basically the same whether a small group or a large majority of average citizens are in favor. On the other hand, all else being the same, opposition from the wealthy means that a particular policy is only adopted about 18 percent of the time, but when they support it it gets adopted 45 percent of the time. Similar patterns are true for interest groups. The impact could also be even higher than their findings, as there may be policy differences among those they count as wealthy, which means that the imprecision in their measure “is likely to produce underestimates of the impact of economic elites on policy making,” they write.

Article: The Government Listens To Lobbyists And The Wealthy, Not You And Me
Study: Testing Theories of American Politics:Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens

Well, that is something that everybody knew before, although it is interesting seeing the actual situation in numbers. Money talks, unfortunately. It is hard to imagine, how it would even be possible to change such situation.

If we ban lobbying from CONgress, we could change the world.
But it is so entrenched....it is so deep rooted in that den of vipers, that the men who accept the money would surely die if they gave up their spoiled rotten ways of legal bribery. It won't happen without a fight, or force.

This doesn't even need to be studied. It has been known since the beginnings of oil lobbys and power lobbys from the 1800's. Money wields power in DC and the guys with the money will get the most power. Why do the biggest corporations and businesses have the most influence, the highest amount of tax breaks, and the same people from CONgress on their boards or chairmen?

These questions are simply answered. LOBBYISTS.

To which the American people owe themselves a great debt. Get money out of CONgress and you can get your voices heard again. One of the main reasons I supported Ron Paul is because he was known to frequently piss off the lobby types. Always denying their quests for bribing and corruptions, they soon stopped even coming around him. What does that tell you about the man himself? What does that tell you about the lobbyists?

Exactly.

reply to post by Cabin

Cabin
Money talks, unfortunately. It is hard to imagine, how it would even be possible to change such situation.

Easy: drastically cut the political power that is the incentive/basis for the bribary (aka lobbyism).

Corruption ends when there is nothing to gain from a bribe.

reply to post by Cabin


The relatively same thing is occurring in Denmark, but from a different angle - The Banksters are buying up the corporations and the average joe is getting shafted.

So, you can imaging my satisfaction at getting to post here, what I just posted there........

This 2-party political system that the Banksters and their bitches have created, developed and honed over the past 100+ years in various western countries is a scourge on the development of our civilization as a whole species.

It's effect is all encompassing, from food to war, and everything inbetween - we are at the mercy of a few selected bloodlines who have a global agenda......that was in effect before any of us were alive.

Today, Denmark, amongst other countries that sport a 2-party train-wreck of a political system, is the proving ground and a complacent general public within this political system that is more interested in TV programs than their own lives is one reason we may be fluxed - as a species.

Banksters, Big Oil, Big Pharma.......Big Brother.
www.abovetopsecret.com...

They lissen the ppl too but its called spying thou.. I bet if the government job would require real patriotism and real values of humanity etc, we could change whole rigged corrupted system in no time, they who work as government should not make huge money on the job, they should make normal money and they should be under real time watch, so that ppl could keep track and records of their jobs. No warnings for BS trickeries, lies etc if u abuse government job u should be thrown to jail for long time too. Same thing with banks and monetary system, they should be equally working for everyone not for certain ppl, this "free market" and sh1t is all for these big systems who take over everything.

reply to post by Cabin


We need Grand Juries. That would be a great place to start.

reply to post by Cabin


We didn't really need a study to know they don't listen to the average citizen. Just look at the recent court ruling in favor of corporations!

Figures as much-first hand experience being involved and observing, rather confirming study overall. A lot of people who claim it's only Politicians faults miss the fact that these political entities are funded by them and some illegally paid off by them.

Nothing short of a civil war will change anything, in the US or any other country with a similar oligarchy in place. There are many many more of us than them so even with the military they control, I think the common people would prevail.

It will not happen, the common person is clueless to how the government really works, how the FED and the banking system really works. They are too caught up in reality television and facebook drama to see the direction our civilization.

Among of those of us who see what is going own, very few have the courage to attempt to do anything about it.

reply to post by jrod


Courage is contageous. Just being unafraid to talk about it, will begin change. Look up what Michelle Obama said in China about the internet, free speech, etc. Hello, she is married to the one all the blame is being pushed on. He goes to Germany, and says we must redouble our efforts to close gitmo. Excuse me? Who is head of the US? Little fishy isnt it?

Remember Kennedy.

It never is the obvious ones who are in charge. Did not Bush Jr teach you that? Where was Cheney on 9/11? Where was Bush? How about the immediate actions of LBJ after Kennedy was taken out? What, there can be no Snapes in real life? Think. The first day in office is probably an upclose and personal DVD showing of the Zuppruder film. There are Snapes. Look for them.

The only way evil will prevail, is when good men do nothing. Talking about it, is doing something. There will be pains to bring the truth to light, but it is now time to start.

Spread the word. Enlighten the masses. We the people need a Grand Jury, not beholden to anyone. Have people Google it, and Justice Scalia words on just how much power we have, if we form one.

Not Authorized
reply to post by jrod

 

Remember Kennedy.

How about the immediate actions of LBJ after Kennedy was taken out?

Of course I remember Kennedy.

Many consider this the speech that resulted in his assassination. To me the speech is far more important than "The Gettysburg Address."



at 9:55:

For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence, on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day.
It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific, and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed......

I'm shocked no one has been accused of class warfare yet. That is the standard response by those who support the status quo out of greed or hate.

The scum will listen to anyone that's paying cash and it should be known that politicians (99%) work for tips/bribes and not wages.

Bankers have the biggest pockets and that is why they have been allowed to walk over everyone.

Treason you could call it and I long for the days when justice is handed out by the public to these scum @'##]]]

reply to post by CB328


Why would there be? Lets see....

The BLM, a corporation, just came to steamroll over ordinary American Men, Women, and Children, with full military might for 1.1 million in "fees" not applicable under common law, among others. As a Bonus it just risked a civil war. Read TITLE 18 U.S.C. Section 241-242, and make special note of the maximum penalty. Notice that law includes no, "I just work here" clause.

But Al Shapton, whom owes just as much in taxes, doesnt have this same show of force arriving at his door to collect. Instead he has direct whitehouse access, and receives kingly treatment.

Instead of screwing with a rancher in the middle of nowhere, can we send the same force the BLM showed to find that 1.3 trillion missing from the DoD budget, as of 9/10/01?

Priorities people. :-)

The curtain was just ripped wide open, in realtime. There is no excuses now. Everyone saw the official narrative change, based on how many public viewers there were. This is not going away. The more the MSM ignores it, the more obvious it becomes. Reid, at very minimum, needs to resign.

As a civil war potentially brewed in his whole State, what was he doing? Status quo. It is self evident, he is incapible of fulfilling his duty and oath to the U.S. Constitution.

We need many many State and Federal Grand Juries. Justice must return to this land. We need indictments, and arrests. And we do the job right. We follow the truth, where ever the evidence leads us.

Government listens to elites?

Yes, Republicans do everything in their power to defer money back to the elites through tax policy and deregulation. This essentially privatizes government which is the Republican MO for everything that is in the public sphere.

spurgeonatorsrevenge
Government listens to elites?

Yes, Republicans do everything in their power to defer money back to the elites through tax policy and deregulation. This essentially privatizes government which is the Republican MO for everything that is in the public sphere.

Nawww.

The Democrat ultra-Progressives are much much better at using the Marx 10-plank system.

They get the Corporatists agenda rolling faster and harder every time.

The banks are proof.

xuenchen

spurgeonatorsrevenge
Government listens to elites?

Yes, Republicans do everything in their power to defer money back to the elites through tax policy and deregulation. This essentially privatizes government which is the Republican MO for everything that is in the public sphere.

Nawww.

The Democrat ultra-Progressives are much much better at using the Marx 10-plank system.

They get the Corporatists agenda rolling faster and harder every time.

The banks are proof.

Yet Republicans are constantly advocating for lower taxes on the elites and the elimination of all the rules governing their various industries. Both things are exactly what the Elite lobby for, the elites do not lobby for higher minimum wage, neither do Republicans, this is because the Republicans are pro business and pro Elite.

Of course we all know this, and that the majority is against it, but the study shows nothing will get done about it.

We are ruled by the elite and the deck has been stacked against us since Nixon, Reagen made it 10 times worst, and now its 100 times worst.

The government doesn't recognize the will of the poor or middle class and this will be there downfall. eventually or will it?

Examples:

Why do we still have the drug war?

Why do we still have a prison industry?

Why does every budget subsidize industry and billionaires??

We are owned all of us. So shut up and go back to work!

Wow who woulda thunk it, that croneyism exists in politics.

reply to post by spurgeonatorsrevenge


I disagree.

The big bank bailouts were legislated by Democrat controlled Congresses.

They controlled the committees.

In general, Democrats support giant bank friendly legislation.

They also support all the tax cuts for corporations and rich.