Quote:
"Back in the 1950s, sociology C. Wright MIlls was criticized for insisting that power--the ability to carry out your will despite resistance--was concentrated in the hands of a few, for his analysis contrdicted the dominant ideology of equality. as was discussed in earlier chapters, Mills coined the term power elite to refer to those who make the big decisions in the U.S. society.
Mills and others have stressed how wealth and power coalesce in a group of like-minded individuals who share ideologies and values. These individuals belong to the same private clubs, vacation at the same exclusive resorts, and even hire the same bands for their daughters' debutante balls. Their shared backgrounds and vested interests reinforce their of both the world and their special place in it. This elite wields extraordinary power in U.S. society. Although there are exceptions, most U.S. president have come from this group--millionaire white men from families with "old money".
Continuing in this traditions of Mills, sociology William Domhoff argue that this group is so powerful that no major decision of the U.S. government is made without its approval. He analyzed how this group works behind the scenes with elected officials to determine both the nation's foreign and domestic policy--from setting Social Security taxes to imposing trade tariffs. Although Domhoff's conclusions are controversial--and alarming--they certainly follow logically from the principle that wealth brings power and extreme wealth brings extreme power."
Mills and others have stressed how wealth and power coalesce in a group of like-minded individuals who share ideologies and values. These individuals belong to the same private clubs, vacation at the same exclusive resorts, and even hire the same bands for their daughters' debutante balls. Their shared backgrounds and vested interests reinforce their of both the world and their special place in it. This elite wields extraordinary power in U.S. society. Although there are exceptions, most U.S. president have come from this group--millionaire white men from families with "old money".
Continuing in this traditions of Mills, sociology William Domhoff argue that this group is so powerful that no major decision of the U.S. government is made without its approval. He analyzed how this group works behind the scenes with elected officials to determine both the nation's foreign and domestic policy--from setting Social Security taxes to imposing trade tariffs. Although Domhoff's conclusions are controversial--and alarming--they certainly follow logically from the principle that wealth brings power and extreme wealth brings extreme power."
Now...
if I recall correctly, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton have produced something like... thirty terms worth of U.S. Presidents? I know that, theoretically, Yale has been filling the Oval Office for the past twenty-five years. And Obama? A Harvard Law student. And of course, McCain's Paternal Ancestry can be traced back through the Military for three generations, right back to the Civil War.
These aren't new people. These aren't people such as you, or I. Has there been a new face in D.C. recently? A few. But I don't know them. Instead, "Old Money" has continually ruled this country, with few exceptions. Or rather I should say, with some "diversity". Ultimately though, we aren't composed of artists and engineers and scientists and carpenters and business men and psychologists. No. Not at all. A lot of people running this country are truly the children of rich politicians, corporation owners, or Militants.
And morals and ideologies, like money, usually pass down like blood. I'm telling you I.Am we live the lives that our culture's hand us and the culture's of our countries rulers are very similar. Each one extends a certain way to think and that way to think has governed us, with a mix of success and failure, for the past three hundred years.
So really, in order for the President to get s**t done, he'd need to stab... oh, everyone in the back. Everyone that helped him get into office, and funded his campaign.
And, even if Domhoff was wrong it is fact that the richest members of this country (average out) consist of 1% of our total population.
That's a little curious.
