A Populist Agenda
The two most recent blog posts dealt with concentration of power in corporations in the early 20th century and current concerns with growing corporate concentration in numerous industries. Effects of concentration in the political sphere go beyond the limitless campaign contributions and lobbying, to rewarding politicians with jobs in retirement in return for their support, to influencing legislation meant to regulate the lobbyists’ industry or allowing lobbyists to actually write the legislation.
The latter post concluded that many social and political issues will remain unresolved until “big money” campaign financing is curtailed. Indeed, popular positions on several issues revealed by pollsters such as Pew, Gallup and news organizations, among others, are diametrically opposed to positions held by influence-seeking big donors.
For example, an April 2018 Gallup poll found 66% of Americans believe corporations pay too little taxes, and 62% believe upper income people pay too little taxes. An NBC/Wall Street Journal survey in April 2018 found only 27% approval of the 2017 tax law. In a Pew Research Center survey, 77% of adults believe there should be limits on individual and organization campaign spending. A Pew survey of voters in September 2018 found 63% believe the economic system in the U.S. is unfair, and 58% believe the government should assure health care is available to everyone.
When Pew asked adults if it is important for everyone to have equal opportunity to succeed, 95% said yes. Likewise, 93% said health care costs present a big problem, and 82% felt the same about inequality. Politicians of various stripes can give lip service in support of these broad objectives, while “big money” supports legislation that is in conflict.
Distrust of government is understandable when wealthy individuals or corporations promote legislative action that conflicts with popular objectives. The common theme evident from polling responses is the problem of extraordinary inequality in income and wealth. While polling results offer a sound base for development of a populist political agenda, change is unlikely as long as the ironically titled “Citizens United” decision prevails.