Ch 14 - Power and Politics

Ch 14 - Power and Politics Oil companies are really wealthy Should the federal government give them subsidies (welfare)? political activities by oil industry - they hope to get favorable legislation Is it ok for them to influence politics? Two possibilities 1) Democracy -competing pressure groups will present their cases. legislators have to compromise and make decisions most beneficial to the public 2) But, these efforts to use money to influence politics means only a privileged few get their way Small companies and individuals don’t have power compared to the wealthy elite Models of National Power Structure (2) elitist model of power - pyramid of power, and people at the top control everything pluralist model of power - power is dispersed and not concentrated, distributed among voters, interest groups, organizations Pluralist models Pluralism I: Representative democracy democracy - form of government in which people have ultimate power, will of majority prevails, equality before the law, and decisions maximize the common good the representatives are elected by the people and are responsive to the wishes of the people The problem: People are in reality powerless, because politicians will deceive them or not tell them the whole truth Campaigns need money to be financed Bipartisan Campaign reform act (mcCain-Feingold law) prevents “soft money” in federal elections. soft money allows individuals, corporations, unions, to raise money for candidates who are independent Indirect $ for candidates money can buy votes, and a disproportionate amount can go to powerful people it takes money to be a successful politician Pluralism II: Veto Groups Each interest group is concerned with its own interests Balance of power - they neutralize because they want to prevent the others from threatening their interests Criticisms: It’s not realistic as a model Why? 1) Some interest groups have more power than others eg: Big Business vs farmers coalition 2) Power structure is not amorphous, and doesn’t shift constantly 3) The wealthier interest groups come out on top Elitist Models elitist views of societal power similar to Marx’s ideas Economics is basis for stratification system - unequal distribution of rewards like power Economic elite owns and controls the economy, has biggest influence on government, and = ruling class Manipulate public via media State serves interest of capitalist class instrumentalist view - a view of power held by some Marxists that the ruling class controls political institutions through money and influence. Other Marxists accept the structuralist view of power structuralist view - A Marxian interpretation of power arguing that the ruling class gets its way because the political and economic institutions are biased in its favor not active manipulation, just bias

Power Elite I (from thesis of C. Wright Mills, 1956): key people in three sectors: Corporate rich, Executive Branch of government, and the Military Middle: local opinion groups (interest groups) Bottom: unorganized masses Believed power elite relatively new phenomenon; decisions of small groups more consequential Factors giving rise to emergence of power elite: power and violence Infinitely greater than they were in the past Increasingly centralized Transportation and communication, economy, warfare enlarged / centralized Economy - dominated by