Economic inequality—the gap between rich and poor—should concern policymakers for many reasons: humanitarian concern for the everyday challenges faced by the working poor; the cost of social supports needed to fill the gap between what people earn and what they need in order to live; and the substantial drag on the economy from weak demand (when people lack discretionary income, they cannot buy many goods and services). And of course, social scientists have long recognized that unequal societies are unstable societies.
Those concerns are widely acknowledged. Less recognized is the harm done to democratic systems when large numbers of Americans live in or on the edge of poverty. Those people lack what political scientists call voice.
Democratic theory begins with the concept of membership, the right–and duty– of (competent adult) members of a society to participate equally in the citizenship responsibilities of the nation.
The most prominent responsibility, of course, is voting, and even before the current Republican efforts to make voting much more difficult for poor and minority citizens, turnout in poorer precincts was low. There are any number of reasons why people preoccupied with making it through the week—paying rent and putting food on the table—have little time or energy left for civic duties. In many states, including my own Indiana, polling places are inconvenient and they close early, making it very difficult for people who work long hours, or who may not have ready access to transportation, to cast a ballot.
If participation at the polls is skewed toward more affluent Americans, giving the comfortable more voice, other mechanisms to influence public policy are even more unevenly distributed.
Poor Americans do not send lobbyists to the halls of Congress or to their local statehouses. They rarely write letters to the editor (assuming that quaint effort to enter the public conversation still matters). When legislators hold hearings on issues that will affect middle class families and the working poor, they are unlikely to face citizens from those constituencies who have come to testify.
Poor citizens are also highly unlikely to make political contributions. (For that matter, according to Open Secrets, only a tiny proportion of the public—fewer than 1%–makes political contributions of $200 or more.)
Even the most conscientious policymakers can only act upon information they receive, and even when there is no quid pro quo, it is human nature to at least listen to people who have contributed to your campaign or your political party.
The result of disproportionate participation and information asymmetry is disproportionate legislative attention to the concerns and desires of those who can and do participate.
It isn’t just legislative inaction. Poor neighborhoods notoriously receive less attention from municipal agencies; streets in such neighborhoods are the last to be plowed or paved, parks and other public amenities are more likely to be neglected, since more empowered residents know how to make their needs known, and have the time and wherewithal to communicate with local government.
Lack of voice translates into a marginalized civic status– poor Americans lack the means to influence the system, or to change policies that operate to keep them marginalized.
In a variety of ways, they are second-class citizens–holders of “class B” memberships in the American polity. It’s something we need to fix, but the remedy is by no means obvious.
Economic inequality.
Is that not a further definition of Human inequality?
I am not sure the solution to economic inequality is not solved by facing our inability to provide equitable justice for all.
If that is so then we can be proud as a nation that for the last eight years we have been faced by the reaction of those who enjoy the status-quo of human inequality.
That is, it would seem to me what the Presidential race is about.
“Even the most conscientious policymakers can only act upon information they receive, and even when there is no quid pro quo, it is human nature to at least listen to people who have contributed to your campaign or your political party.”
Here is where I believe a great proportion of our current political problems begin and end – with no interest or action between the beginning and the end. Aren’t our elected officials supposed to be rather like doctors, basically on “24 hour call”? When not in session are they not expected to be active in their districts, still on duty, seeking information and rooting out problems and their sources by listening to and going to their constitutents directly. Not unlike their supposedly active participation during their campaigning to be elected? The vast majority of their time, for which they are paid high salaries, is spent out of session; today this appears to mean too many of them are uninterested and inactive in what they consider to be their “off duty time”.
Let them eat Cheerios ! Grocery stories throw out cake every day! See. Pub solutions are easy.
Many people on this blog have condemned the Democratic party and Democrat citizens for not stepping up to the plate to demand change. You have just explained the reasons for this.
The conservative right has decimated the Democratic voter base. Union busting has been very successful in silencing their voices. In Indiana the union busting was even used on school teachers. Although the teachers came out in droves to get rid of the State Superintendent of Education and vote in a Democrat, the new governor Pence decided to ignore the voters and silence her in every way that he and his cronies could think of.
Bernie Sanders led a successful campaign of raising money because he spoke to the voters who have been marginalized. His campaign frequently asked for $2 and $3 donations. They knew that people could do this and it wouldn’t be a hardship. It is very unfortunate that the Democratic Party leadership worked hard against him. This election process has proven to the average hard working citizen that even if they TRY to elect someone who will make changes to improve their lives, even that person will be be met by a brick wall within their own party.
I will repeat again the statement that I have been making for the past fifteen years: It will take a revolution to make the changes needed to save the growing number of people who have been marginalized and that revolution is getting closer and closer each year. If Trump gets elected I predict he will push people over the edge to the point of rising up to fight. It is already happening in many ways, as we see killings and mass murders in the news every day. People are angry and have lost hope and believe that they have nothing to lose.
JoAnn, re your statement below:
“Aren’t our elected officials supposed to be rather like doctors, basically on “24 hour call”? When not in session are they not expected to be active in their districts, still on duty, seeking information and rooting out problems and their sources by listening to and going to their constitutents directly. ”
They ARE active during their time out of session – they are actively campaigning for large donations and many are also campaigning to gain more powerful political jobs. ALEC begins wooing them as soon as they are newly voted into office. Silly you for thinking that they should care about the citizens that they represent.
Jim, more and more grocery stores and restaurants donate their unsold items to food panrties and soup kitchens. In France, it is required. Providing a meal doesn’t end the poverty, though.
JoAnn is right. It is startlingly easy to find poor people in every city in this country and those legislators who wanted to find out about the poor in their districts could do so very easily.
Senator Greg Taylor came to our neighborhood association meeting last week. He didn’t just speak and leave; he stayed and asked questions throughout the meeting. It was novel (I can’t remember ever seeing a state legislature at one of putt meetings) and most appreciated. He is working on getting to all the association meetings in his district. One might argue that the people who participate in neighborhood associations are already a subset, but it is a good starting point as the meetings are open to all.
Nancy; ooops! My bad! Mea culpa! WTF could I have been thinking!
At the level of City Councilor, Mary Moriarty-Adams appeared in my neighborhood twice in the 11 1/2 years I have lived here, campaigning for votes and support for reelection. Five years ago she was a major source for help and information, two years ago she came to a Neighborhood Watch meeting and took notes. It took over a year to resolve two ongoing problems, one included heavy rat infestation. Last year I got no response to my messages; gave her E-mail address to 2-3 of my neighbors to seek help for a major problem and we got a response after three weeks. She did not run for reelection this year, we elected Dave Ray, another Democrat. Can’t remember which state representative had campaign workers in the neighborhood in 2008; I remember the year because they provided my “Obama for President” yard sign.
You are incorrect in your statement below.
<<<<>>>
In Indiana the voting can be done absentee in person or by mail. There are 28 states in which you don’t need an excuse to vote by mail. In Indiana you do not need an excuse to vote absentee in person, you need an excuse to vote by mail. But that is easily obtained.
Honesty in reporting and blogging is paramount in democracy.
Have a great day!
Correct me if I am mistaken, but during the past primary election wasn’t it reported that Indiana has the shortest voting hours of any state?
In my county the number of voting locations was reduced from eleven down to five two years ago, with many small towns losing their convenient location. The closest place for me to vote is the county courthouse, which is nine miles from my home. It would be interesting to know how many voters have given up on voting. I understand that people can vote by absentee ballot, but am not sure everyone knows how to do that or knows who to contact to obtain an absentee ballot.
So where do you draw the line of personal responsibiity? The information is there, at your fingertips. Please.
Excusing lack of civic engagement because “they don’t know”, is doing a disservice to their intelligence, care for their country, and their ability to want better. Unless, of course, we think that rioting, fascist mobilizations, and violent rhetoric is a valid way to engage civically.
Have a great day.
MartinaLevi; you win the prize for most condescending commenter again. If you see something incorrect; please provide the correct information from your vast store of knowledge.
I still believe you are Gopper reincarnated or incognito.
Nancy,
You’ve never said it better.
This lead in today is interesting in that it addresses what government should be for people fully engaged in survival and therefore with out time and energy to care about government.
Democracy of course addresses that. They get the same government that a majority who have the time and energy available to invest in directing government give them.
In America that has been a success. There are not many people so engaged in survival that they can’t care about government. Consider the activism in poor neighborhoods on the actions of government that directly impact them. Consider as another example how many people invest their time and effort as President Obama started as community organizers. Or as Tim Kaine spent the early years of his professional life.
So the question is: what kind of America do a majority of us who started on first base and managed to advance want to give those who never left the batters box where they were born?
The answer that the Entitlement Party suggests is a dictatorship. A government of one who has the power to impose on everybody what’s best for the entitled among us, those born on third and home.
Those in the one remaining political party have a different vision, a Constitutional Democracy the selects leaders who focus our collective voice on progress for those without voice because those with voice will always have, well, voice.
People with multiple mansions and yachts and chauffeurs don’t need the majority of Americans to help them. We should let them be eating their cake.
Those fully engaged in surviving might not be able to help us but on the other hand we all could be them at the stroke of any life changing moment.
So let’s elect leaders not dictators. Let’s take advantage of what we have been bequeathed, a Constitutional Democracy. Let’s restore Congress and the Supreme Court to full functionality again.
This is truly a no brainer folks.
Hey, I don’t know who Gopper is. You keep repeating that, but I never met that dude. Or is it a woman? No idea. But I am glad to see that you have incorporated some of my vocabulary into your language. That’s great!
Like you suggest, I saw incorrect information published by Ms. Kennedy, and I proceeded to correct it. You are very welcome. 🙂
Have a great day!
“In a variety of ways, they are second-class citizens–holders of “class B” memberships in the American polity. It’s something we need to fix, but the remedy is by no means obvious.”
Sorry, Sheila. Have to disagree here. The remedy may not be obvious, but we have decades of data and experience to study and learn from. We do not start from zero. Look back to the War on Poverty days. Every program had to have neighborhood residents, program recipient representatives, on its program council. Some of those a councils were jokes, but some of them made a real difference. What about them made the difference? Replicate it. Here in Fort Wayne a wonderful implementation of community oriented policing turned into community oriented government. In a Republican city administration. For a fabulous while. That should be replicated. We know how to give people, every one, voice. We just need the will to do it.
Think of what a statement America could make to the world about who we are if Trumpence got <1% of our votes.
My mother was voting in Terre Haute where they had decreased the number of polling sites. The wait at one of them was up to 2 hours. Who has that time to wait especially for those of us who have to work. My mom is in her 70’s and she can’t stand that long not to mention not so easy for her friends who had knee surgery and one had open heart. We should not be making it harder to vote.
I’m with Nancy…I would not know where or how to do an absentee ballot and isn’t there a time constraint? To be honest I just moved to Tennessee and just going to a government website to figure out what I need to do to become registered voter is a nightmare. I had to go to the county clerks office who does vehicle license plates and they had voter registration forms that I have to mail in….now anyone who has ever had to mail anything to the government knows the tendency for things to get lost and so I need to find d out if I am actually registered. I have a feeling that those in power really want us to vote and don’t want to hear from us
Martina, welcome back! We love diversity here or at least some do.
“absentee in person” sounds oxymoronic to me.
Sorry…do not want us to vote
The Entitlement Party did what they did to hamper full election participation and disable one man one vote. That’s over and it’s merely the reality dealt to us by us up until now.
New day.
What can we do to overcome that problem. To get all Americans registered and in a position to vote regardless of the obstacles that fate or the Entitlement Party put in their way?
Thank you, Pete. I am glad that you stopped attacking after the initial shock of having someone challenge the groupthink mentality. But I tend to grow on people, like an acquired taste, much like artichokes or cilantro. Now if you could explain who Gopper is, I will much appreciate it.
Regarding “absentee in person”, it is more like “early in person” –> written in haste.
Here is what St Wiki says: “Absentee voting by mail is allowed with no excuse in 28 states, and with an excuse in 22. No-excuse permanent absentee voting is allowed in 4 states. Early voting in person is allowed with no excuse required in 31 U.S. states, with an excuse in 3, and not at all in 16. The District of Columbia requires an excuse for both early voting and absentee voting.”
Have a great day!
Why is it that the majority of this blog can’t stay focused on what Nancy and Sheila have pointed out? Instead, it looks like as usual, it will go off in another direction. Don’t you think it’s about time to take a deep look at the truth, instead of relying on emotional escapism?
At this moment in our short history, the forthcoming presidential election won’t decide anything. It is just another form of escape from the HARD truth that we’re no longer a democracy at the root of our political system. Who are we kidding other than ourselves? It sure isn’t the rest of the world.
For those
who truly want to get involved in opportunity for all, check out IndyCAN (Indianapolis Congregation Network.
Keith,
I’m impressed, whatever that’s worth.
Keith,
thank you for sharing. It seems like a wonderful opportunity to get involved.
Marv…I am nowhere near as articulate as many on this blog who are clearly fellow professors, attorneys, lobbyists, etc… I am 47 years old and politics has been ugly and divisive my young adult to adult life. I want a full on revolution….a social ‘civil’ war of sorts. As a Sander’s supporter I wish I can be livid but what the DNC did by clearly stacking the decks against Sanders is not surprising but more status quo. Government and politics are for the affluent. I am an underemployed middle age woman who has tried unsuccessfully to make a career change only to learn that gender ageism exists. Always late to the party…adopted my daughter when I was 40, took some time off to get that SPEA graduate degree and be a mom and can’t get back into the workforce. I want a revolution…I said back in November that I feel a rebellion is simmering. My age group has never witnessed a rebellion in our society
There are lots of legal ways to help people. I know at times I had to take a deep breath and Do It. Here in Travis County, Texas, when we got redistricted, I wasn’t precinct chair any more. We started a supper group and invite all kinds of speakers. There’s all kinds of groups and activities. We have voter registration events. We’re not unique or better. I just thought you might find some helpful ideas.
Check DOONESBURY today. whether you invite friends for coffee or phone banking or hand out voter reg. cards, do something.
It sounds like the law has alleviated, not solved, some of the obstacles to full democracy in about half of the states.
A weak start but at least a start.
Those of us in favor of a Constitutional Democracy should be a long way from satisfied with that progress and have our sleeves rolled up and be ready to work on the rest of the solution.
The highest priority in attacking the restoration of a Constitutional Democracy is to vote out of government all who oppose it and I would say that that’s, at the highest level, Sheila’s mission here.
So this critical election day that involves teaching as many potential voters as possible to make clear the alternatives in the decision that we face: change to a dictatorship or continue Constitutional Democracy.
As we get closer to election day we shift from teaching to enabling.
Frankly I have zero trouble voting. I need to learn what troubles those who are limited in participating have and fix them a person at a time.
So, let’s talk the teaching part. Trump has already sown the seeds of his own destruction and it is very reasonable to expect more. He said, and I quote “No one knows the system better than me,” he said pausing to smile, “which is why I alone can fix it.”
“I alone can fix it.” Can anyone deny that as dictatorship talk?
The Entitlement Party has made it clear that this election is about them consolidating power to impose what’s best for them on the rest of us. What better way is there than dictatorship? “I alone!”
So, there’s a start. If we all do at least one thing a day between now and election day to teach, then enable, we can make a difference.
RN,
“I said back in November that I feel a rebellion is simmering. My age group has never witnessed a rebellion in our society.”
I like your words “a social civil war of sorts.” It doesn’t have to be violent. However, the “Extreme Right” is forcing it that way, so everyone will be scared to DEATH to take the necessary action to ensure our country’s future.
Keith, Constitutional Democracy obviously needs maintenance work done as does Christianity or even just religion.
It’s nice to see religious efforts directed at what I always learned about our Christian heritage, working together to support each other’s lives.
Our Constitutional Democracy can’t be about religion but religion certainly plays a role in the efforts of many individuals to support the common goals of the two institutions, community organization.
RN, I think that there’s a certain danger in viewing Hillary and Bernie through the lens of what differentiates them, tactics, compared to what aligns them, mission. That danger is Trumpence.
The DNC being composed of professional politicians, knew as did Bernie that his election tactics made him a big underdog and yet he, I’m sure to his surprise as a professional, was competitive. He’s effectively invested that political capital in moving the DNC platform leftward.
Good for him, good for us.
I see no bad guys here, only democracy as it’s designed to work.
Pete,
You can’t effectively deal with CANCER by only attacking its symptoms. Unfortunately, our political problems TODAY are no different…..WHATSOEVER.
Too funny. Bernie Sanders addressed the inequality issue during his campaign and readers of this blog ridiculed him and said his solutions were not grounded in reality. Now it has come to our attention via wikileaks the Democratic Party purposely sabotaged the Sanders campaign. If inequality has been a growing problem for decades,why is it that Democrats didn’t address it during their years of majority governing? Because big money is the fuel of our system. In fact,the readers of this blog support the candidate most bought by special interests and monarchical foreign governments. There’s your problem. You have candidates unwilling to address the issue and voters unwilling to leave their comfort zone to vote for candidates willing to tackle real issues. Hell,even the Koch brothers are backing Clinton,as is the Chamber of Commerce. Inequality will not be a concern for Hillary.
Btw,it’s interesting Hillary has chosen Christian Dominionist Tim Kaine as her running mate. Again, The Democrats have moved further to the right.
Y’all should look up Tim Kaine’s support for Project Exile. If you’ve never heard of it and are seriously considering voting for Clinton,consider yourself a low information voter.
Project Exile is the epitome of inequality.
Pete,
“I see no bad guys here, only democracy as it’s designed to work.”
You must be kidding.
Good advice William. Here’s what it was about.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Exile
Marv are you saying that democracy is about agreeing? I would say that it’s about disagreeing.
While Bernie and Hillary agreed about most things they disagreed about a few. The voters settled the disagreement.
Marv, not sure about your “CANCER” metaphor, especially capitalized.
What does it clarify in your mind?
If you mean that having a megalomaniacle Fascist would be dictator running on the slate of a hijacked party is potentially painful and even fatal, I agree.
Beyond that perhaps it means something to you that I don’t relate to.
Pete,
I’m not going to argue with you. You don’t want to see HOW BAD THINGS ARE. I don’t blame you.
In actuality, we’re 180 degrees apart on that issue. As we have discussed before, Sociology is not one of your strong points.
MatinaLevi:
“So where do you draw the line of personal responsibiity? The information is there, at your fingertips. Please.
Excusing lack of civic engagement because “they don’t know”, is doing a disservice to their intelligence, care for their country, and their ability to want better.”
By writing the above statement you have proven just how little you know about the opportunity for voters to access the government! You obviously have NO CLUE that many many people in rural areas cannot afford access to internet service and cannot afford a subscription to the local newspaper – both of which could be resources for much needed information about where to vote or how to access the ability to vote absentee.
Marv, what is “that issue”?
The Democrat primary?
All y’all,
If you want Clinton to win the election, then cut to the chase and make it happen.
If all you want to do is impress others with your skills of nuanced argumentation, then get a room.
MartinaLevi:
You have arrived on this blog with an extremely arrogant attitude. You have clearly hoisted yourself up onto a self-appointed pedestal, viewing yourself as being more intelligent than the rest of the commenters on this blog. You have also made it clear that you are here to pick apart Sheila’s writing – scouring it in an effort to critique her on points that you feel she left out or failed to mention as being important (in your opinion).
You thanked Pete for “stopping attacking”, but you have not “challenged” the “groupthink mentality” as you stated. Let me make this very clear to you – No One Else on this blog views you as the all-knowing, self-important person that you alone believe yourself to be. So, come down off of your high horse and stop personally attacking people. You are only showing the rest of us just how ill-mannered and boorish of a person you are.
You appear to be hear with the intent of starting pissing matches with other commenters. If you can’t be civil, then take yourself to another blog or start your own where people don’t have enough of a backbone to put you in your place. I personally view you as being inferior to the rest of us. When others on this blog find Sheila’s post to be missing relevant information or find something to be incorrect, we bring it up in a respectful manner – not in the haughty and condescending manner that you use.
Gopper was an extremely rude and ignorant person who was always attacking others on the blog and making narrow-minded claims that were easily proven to be false.
I will close this comment with your favorite sentence (which you most definitely state in a very snarky way) –
Have a great day!
Here – not hear
Nancy,
Stop clutching your pearls and read my post at 1:33pm today.
You see my impression is that conversation should be promoted here rather than discouraged.
Just an fyi,Lynch has renewed the unjust asset forfeiture with no due process. Of course,guys such as Irsay,Dimon and Blankfein will not be subject to such indignities.
Pete; I agree wholeheartedly with Marv’s term CANCER and with all letters capitalized. Per my Webster’s Dictionary for Students”
“cancer: a serious sometimes deadly disease characterized by the growth of abnormal cells forming tumors which may damage or destroy normal body tissue.”
Using the term as a metaphor regarding our political problems today is an excellent choice; especially when applied to cancer of Trumpism eating away at once normal Americans whose formerly normal psyches appear to be damaged and/or destroyed. We have been watching the symptoms escalate over the past year to what was witnessed last week at the Republican National Convention. There will be no way to repair the damage and destruction done by one man who was given carte blanche by the GOP; the situation is beyond redemption, there can be no rejuvenation of the hearts, minds and souls of his supporters, there is no turning back just as there is no regrowth of breasts, limbs or organs destroyed by cancer.
“Pay to Play” This blog began about economic inequality; the Republican group of 17 presidential nominee wannabes was bought off by Donald Trump with his $13 BILLION net worth; he did indeed “Pay to Play” with the people and the government of the United States. His games have cost us and, if elected, we will be paying him with our tax dollars to continue playing his dangerous games. You think there is economic inequality now; consider what we can expect in the future – if there is a future for this country.
As always JoAnn we have to earn and deserve our future.
Pete,
“If you mean that having a megalomaniacle Fascist would be dictator running on the slate of a hijacked party is potentially painful and even fatal, I agree.”
That’s exactly what I was talking about. And I believe it was yesterday, you advised us to forget about Trumpence. Do you remember? That’s the “issue” that we’re 180+ degrees apart.
Donald Trump didn’t hijack the party. He hijacked the LEADERSHIP earlier than they anticipated. That’s all. They just weren’t ready to expose their Fascist trendies until they obtained control of the government through winning the presidential election of 2016. Now they have no other choice than to do so.
Why does David Duke now want to run for the U.S. Senate from Louisiana? He’s nobody’s fool. I agree with his timing.
As a matter of fact, I warned Dennis Hayes, the past president of the NAACP, one day after George Bush was elected President in 2000, in a long telephone conversation, that George Bush would move us toward Fascism. I sure wasn’t wrong on that prediction. Was I?