2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Blaming Sanders: Why Democratic Party Unity is Officially Impossible [View all]Tal Vez
(660 posts)I have no doubt that there exists a nexus between economic power and political power. That is probably true of every society that ever existed. And the two tend to feed each other - economic power provides certain advantages in gaining and exercising political power and, at the same time, political power can be used to yield economic advantages. I wonder if these facts are more or less unavoidable. They seem universal.
And there there is no question but that interest groups, including business groups, tend to exercise more than normal levels of political power, at least with respect to those issues in which they have a common interest. On the other hand, with respect to issues in which they are in conflict, then their power is of course more limited and diffused.
Personally, i believe that the "average citizen" power is often underestimated. When I look at the success that Trump experienced in the Republican primaries this year, I can't say that economic elites or interest groups carried the day. I think that Trump won in spite of the opposition of these groups. He was opposed by a ton of money. He was opposed by what the press styles as the Establishment. I think he won because a lot of very ordinary people got up off their butts and voted. And, they showed up at these crazy rallies. I think that Trump's campaign is an example of what can happen if a lot of ordinary citizens begin moving in the same direction. Of course, come November (hopefully), Trump may lose to some of these other forces, but they haven't beaten him yet.
If Trump can happen on the right, it can happen on the left. Sanders has run a hell of a campaign. I am convinced that ordinary people can run this country, but, people have to vote and then they have to come back and vote again, As your study points out, ordinary citizens are up against it in that there will be constant opposition possessing some powerful natural advantages. I ask, though - why can't voting become a habit? Why can't ordinary people appreciate and learn to exercise the power that they possess?
I don't know. But, I'll show up.