By Sydney Armstrong
In the United States, our democracy is intertwined with the Constitution, which promises equality and power to the people. Over the years there has been an advanced concentration of wealth and power, raising concerns if the government is truly run by citizens or a small group of elites.
This concentration of power is often referred to as oligarchy, which suggests that a small group of wealthy people have control over the economy, politics, and the government. As the gap between the wealthy and poor widens, a discussion on whether America is becoming an oligarchical society has never been more crucial.
“You and I and the rest of us, we must pay attention,” says Political Science Professor Kimberly Klein. “We cannot fall asleep at the wheel now, we are the ones who really must pay attention and make sure that is not happening.”
Historical Context
Oligarchy in America can be traced back to the early days of the Gilded Age. In the late 19th century the burst of industrialism and corporate growth characterized a handful of people as “captains of industry.” J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, and Leland Stanford all grew to be wealthy by creating monopolies in the petroleum, steel and transportation industries. These “captains of industry” often exploited political and economic systems to secure their interests in tax policies, labor laws, and trade regulations.
“Power allows leverage, power allows influence,” Klein says. “Our role as citizens is that we have to stay engaged, stay informed, and have to keep the government in check, and the way we know that it’s going wrong is through government regulation. If the government is supporting an agenda that allows the few to line their pockets we have to call that out; we have to pay attention.”
Progressive reforms had been created throughout the years to protect citizens. Even so, the accumulation of wealth in a concentrated few continued through the 20th century. We saw a turn in the 1980s when “reaganomics” established deregulation, tax cuts, reduced inflation, and cuts to social spending. In turn, the rich became richer due to the reduction of tax brackets.
These historical events set the stage for a small group of elite individuals to manipulate economic and political systems. This has shaped national decisions and created an environment where oligarchic disposition can flourish.
Economic Inequality
Over the last few decades, the economic inequality in the United States has grown an increasing amount, contributing to the upsurge in oligarchy. The wealth gap between America’s richest and poorest families has doubled from 1989 to 2016. The top 1% now has control over a disproportionate share of the nation’s wealth.
Using tax policies, the decline of labor unions, and corporate bailouts, in their favor. While the lower and middle class face the rising costs of healthcare, economic insecurity, housing crisis, and costs of education.
As the wealth gap widens and the rich become richer, while the middle class dwindles, the political system in America turns in favor of those who can afford to control it. Which only deepens the oligarchal structures set in place in our government.
The fall of our democratic representation and so-called “American Dream” is happening as we speak.
Political Influence
Some of the wealthiest Americans including influential corporations have found certain methods to exert their power over political systems, ensuring that their interests are prioritized in decision-making. The most significant method is known as campaign donations. Wealthy individuals and corporations line the pockets of political candidates and parties, usually in exchange for self-serving policies being enacted once said figure/party is in office.
Campaign donations skyrocketed after the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission in which the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that corporations and unions would be allowed unlimited spending in elections. Since then, the overflow of money has only escalated.
Lobbying is another method the rich use to exert their influence. This is when an individual or group communicates with any official executive or legislative branch in the hope of influencing administrative action or ballot issues.
Lobbyists, usually former lawmakers, work solely to ensure that corporations’ and businesses’ interests are represented at the highest levels of government. This is where the revolving door comes into play.
The revolving door is when public or government officials become lobbyists after leaving their positions. This is a problem when it comes to government and business. When former politicians move into such positions with corporations or governments they once worked for, it further cements interchangeability. This only reinforces a system where the line between private and public interests becomes a grey area.
Staying Educated
In the social media-filled America we live in today, it is important to find reliable and credible sources of information. The best thing we can all do is stay educated and up-to-date on current events.
Having the correct information will help you understand where our government is heading whether it be local or national. Having a well-rounded group of news outlets at your disposal can be the greatest asset when finding your voice. If you’re unsure where to start, we’ve provided a list of factual, unbiased news sources below.
“We have seen change, and young people have driven change; you must go through your lawmakers,” Klein says. “We must stay persistent, be willing to sacrifice, like a dog with a bone you cannot let up. If we can do that together, you can force change. When we are engaged at that level they listen.”
Credible News Sources
The Washington Post. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/
BBC News. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news
USA Today. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/
The New York Times. The New York Times. https://www.thenewyorktimes.com/
The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/ Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times.https://www.latimes.com/
