Political Action SP11: Difference between revisions
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=== Bowles, Edwards & Roosevelt (BER) === | === Bowles, Edwards & Roosevelt (BER) === | ||
'''''Efficiency''''': According to BER, “The term efficient is applied to a labor process if the effort, time, intelligence, creativity, raw materials, natural environment, information, and machinery used in it are applied in a way that enhances people’s well-being by equipping them with the things and the free time needed to lead a flourishing life.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 62 </ref> “The efficiency of labor refers to [[File:Understanding Capitalism.jpg|200 px|left|thumb|Understanding Capitalism <ref> Amazon. “Understanding Capitalism.” 2001. Web. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Capitalism-Competition-Command-Change/dp/0195138651 </ref>]] how much output can be produced as a result of a certain level of work | '''''Efficiency''''': According to BER, “The term efficient is applied to a labor process if the effort, time, intelligence, creativity, raw materials, natural environment, information, and machinery used in it are applied in a way that enhances people’s well-being by equipping them with the things and the free time needed to lead a flourishing life.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 62 </ref> “The efficiency of labor refers to [[File:Understanding Capitalism.jpg|200 px|left|thumb|Understanding Capitalism <ref> Amazon. “Understanding Capitalism.” 2001. Web. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Capitalism-Competition-Command-Change/dp/0195138651 </ref>]] how much output can be produced as a result of a certain level of work effort.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 558 </ref> Two shortcomings that are often overlooked with regards to efficiency are the effects it has on the natural environment, and the fact that household labor and the amount of effort labor take are often not taken into account. | ||
'''''Fairness''''': “…means that people in an economic system suffer the burdens and enjoy the benefits of that economic system | '''''Fairness''''': “…means that people in an economic system suffer the burdens and enjoy the benefits of that economic system equitably.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 64 </ref> According to BER a fair economic system would distribute both benefits and burdens equitably. They maintain that although equality is endorsed, that the equality of opportunity to live a good life is the real goal of equitably redistributing burdens and benefits in society (64-65). The idea of fairness will always be controversial, especially with regard to wealth. Nevertheless, equal opportunity is simply the opportunity and the freedom to remove impediments within society that can be surmounted.(65). | ||
'''''Democracy''''': “…is a process with three characteristics: the exercise of power is accountable to those affected by it, civil rights and personal liberties are guaranteed, and citizens have relatively equal access to political resources and influence” (BER, 66). Democracy can manifest itself in society: in a corporation, in a government and in an economy. “A democratic firm is one that is owned by its employees and run by people who are elected by the employees” (BER, 557).“Democratic government is a way of organizing a government based on (1) accountability of officials through elections with widespread and equal voting rights and (2) civil liberties and personal freedoms” (BER, 557). “The third criterion for assessing an economic system is democracy. One important part of this criterion questions the extent to which the economic system promotes (or hinders) the democratic functioning of the government” (65-66). However, with regard to economic systems, it must be kept in mind that economic systems are also judged by efficiency and fairness as well. For example an economy can be efficient and undemocratic and unfair, such as slavery. (67). | '''''Democracy''''': “…is a process with three characteristics: the exercise of power is accountable to those affected by it, civil rights and personal liberties are guaranteed, and citizens have relatively equal access to political resources and influence” (BER, 66). Democracy can manifest itself in society: in a corporation, in a government and in an economy. “A democratic firm is one that is owned by its employees and run by people who are elected by the employees” (BER, 557).“Democratic government is a way of organizing a government based on (1) accountability of officials through elections with widespread and equal voting rights and (2) civil liberties and personal freedoms” (BER, 557). “The third criterion for assessing an economic system is democracy. One important part of this criterion questions the extent to which the economic system promotes (or hinders) the democratic functioning of the government” (65-66). However, with regard to economic systems, it must be kept in mind that economic systems are also judged by efficiency and fairness as well. For example an economy can be efficient and undemocratic and unfair, such as slavery. (67). | ||
Revision as of 19:54, 7 May 2011
Summary of Authors' Essential Points
Gar Alperovitz
Wealth: Alperovitz refers to Kevin Phillips who establishes that wealth “’…reaches beyond its own realm’ to control political power and government at all levels”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (2)</ref> In the United States wealth is concentrated in the upper class allowing the top 10% of the population to control and manage 80% of the country’s wealth. Wealth comes in many forms, of either money or property and how this is owned and controlled is the real center of power in our political economy.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (5)</ref> Current trends demonstrate “…that the ownership of wealth must benefit the vast majority directly”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (5)</ref>
Liberty: Liberty in itself is not what is needed in this day and age but “equal liberty”. ‘Equal liberty’ is “…and idea that also reaches beyond legal and constitutional protections to consider the capacities and real-world conditions of the vast majority”.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (39)</ref> In order for such liberties to function, they require 3 inputs from society:
1) “First, liberty requires institutional and structural support for individual economic security to replace that which at least in theory was once provided by entrepreneurial property.
2) Second, it requires support for the community-wide conditions needed to nurture the intermediate associations and civil society organizations that are essential to sustaining a culture supportive of liberty.
3) Third, it requires greater amounts of equitably distributed free time (without which little real freedom of choice is possible) and support for individual development (without which the capacities needed to exercise real freedom must inevitably be limited).”<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (40-41)</ref>
Democracy: Alperovitz raises the idea of democracy, by examining it on a small scale and a large scale. He begs the question: “It is possible to have Democracy with a Big D in the system as a whole of you do not have real democracy with a small d at the level where people live, work, and raise families in their local communities”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (43)</ref> Without local level democracy, society wide democracy cannot function effectively. He also stipulates that for meaningful democracy to exist, it requires a level of greater equality amongst the citizens. Currently our economic system arranges society in an intentionally unequal stratification. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (51)</ref>
Alperovitz's Ideals
Alperovitz discusses several suggestions to evolve the system’s current political-economic developments: “First, that there is now way to achieve movement toward greater equality without developing new institutions that hold wealth on behalf of small and large publics. Second, that there is no way to rebuild Democracy with a big D in the system as a whole without nurturing the conditions of democracy with a small d in everyday life—including the economic institutions that allow and sustain greater stability of local community life…[Also] that there is no way to achieve a meaningful individual liberty in the modern era without individual economic security and greater amounts of free time—and that neither of these, in turn, is possible without a change in the ownership of wealth and the income flows it permits”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (233-234)</ref>
Alperovitz's Reforms
In his concluding remarks Alperovitz leans towards Pluralist Commonwealth Models by stating that: “The Pluralist Commonwealth model holds, beyond this, the democratic control of large economic enterprise—a central problem confronting all political-economic systems—can never be achieved without transforming and making public the ownership of large-scale wealth and without developing a new culture—and further, that this can only be done by building on the four key elements. Without local democracy; there can be no culture of democratic practice; without security and time, there can be only a weak citizenry; without decentralization, it is difficult to mobilize democratic practice and accountability; and without major and far-reaching new forms of wealth holding, there can never be adequate support for the conditions and policies needed to build a more egalitarian and free democratic culture. Finally the model is based on the judgment that greater equality, greater individual economic security, greater amounts of free time, and –upon this basis—the reconstitution of a culture of common responsibility are ultimately required if we are ever to reorient our community and national priorities in general”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (234)</ref>
Alperovitz also discusses that reform needs to happen in a “step-by-step nonviolent change” and like revolution the process will reorient the development of different institutional structures to replace traditional corporate formations over time. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (235)</ref> Alperovitz calls this conjunktur, which “designates a coming together at one movement in time of diverse trends to create new, unforeseen, and often dramatic opportunities for change”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (237)</ref>
G. William Domhoff
Domhoff's Ideas By Chapter
Chapter 1: Class and Power in America: Domhoff examines social class and its relation to power as he notices the wealth disparity with the top 10% controlling 80% of the wealth and power in the American capitalist system. Due to the invested economic and social capital by the upper class and corporate classes they are able to maintain their status quo in the wealthy class.
Chapter 2: The Corporate Community: The corporate community is made up of interlocking networks between the members of boards of directors, with individual corporations at the center of these networks and at the center of influence.
Chapter 3: The Corporate Community and the Upper Class: The corporate community is intricately intertwined with the upper class through the perpetuation of upper class organizations, exclusive country clubs and good old boys clubs. These clubs provide an informal and calming environment in which to socialize and make personal or business connections.
Chapter 4: The Policy-Planning Network: Domhoff holds that the policy planning process begins among the power elite in CEO offices and board rooms and those discussion spill over into the government where they are enacted. Domhoff believes the main component to the networks make them especially effective in influencing policy, is their interaction and influence with foundations, think tanks, university research institutes and policy discussion groups. o Power elites are individuals who work as directors, or trustees in corporations and non profits and whose power is most concentrated because they sit on multiple boards.
Chapter 5: The Role of Public Opinion: Despite the fact that public opinion is not swayed easily by the media, the elite have created an intricate opinion shaping network, through their control of the mass media industry to legitimize their power to the other classes and manipulate public opinion and push their own agenda.
Chapter 6: Parties and Elections: Domhoff elaborates on the ability of the elite to manipulate political parties and the electoral system in order to maintain their power. The two party system is controlled by the elite which is contradictory to the American Dream that anyone can become president. In reality, presidential candidates are able to run for office because they already belong to elite institutions which enable them to make connections, accumulate resources and money.
Chapter 7: How the Power Elite Dominate the Government: Through lobbying and the special-interest process, corporations can use their financial and power resources to sway policies in the direction they so choose. As a result, recommendations in the policy planning process reach the government in several ways: 1) People within the policy planning network are often members of committees advising on policies; 2) Corporate executives and experts are prominent on presidential and congressional commissions when appointed to make recommendations; 3) Corporate leaders have personal contact with elected members of organizations with access to the government; 4) Power elites occasionally serve as informal advisers to the president in times of crisis; and 5) Elites that are appointed to government positions can endorse policies from their colleagues and employees in the policy-planning network. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(179-180)</ref>
Chapter 8: The Big Picture: Domhoff discusses different theories of power but identifies with the class domination of power theory. He explains that domination is “the institutionalized outcome of great distributive power”. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(210)</ref> In the United States, the distributive power of the upper and dominant class is based on structural economic power it has gained from being made up of high level executives and business owners.
Domhoff's Reforms By Chapter
Chapter 9: Potential Challenges to Class Domination: Domhoff encourages those whom are opposed to class domination or racial exclusion by would engage in social movements outside the electoral system to try and gain new rights. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(225)</ref> Domhoff also provides advice to the government in that it will have to decide whether it does or does not want to support unions or forms of paternalism (such as improvements in health insurance and other social benefits) or support the corporate community. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(230)</ref>
Yates
Bowles, Edwards & Roosevelt (BER)
Efficiency: According to BER, “The term efficient is applied to a labor process if the effort, time, intelligence, creativity, raw materials, natural environment, information, and machinery used in it are applied in a way that enhances people’s well-being by equipping them with the things and the free time needed to lead a flourishing life.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 62 </ref> “The efficiency of labor refers to
how much output can be produced as a result of a certain level of work effort.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 558 </ref> Two shortcomings that are often overlooked with regards to efficiency are the effects it has on the natural environment, and the fact that household labor and the amount of effort labor take are often not taken into account.
Fairness: “…means that people in an economic system suffer the burdens and enjoy the benefits of that economic system equitably.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 64 </ref> According to BER a fair economic system would distribute both benefits and burdens equitably. They maintain that although equality is endorsed, that the equality of opportunity to live a good life is the real goal of equitably redistributing burdens and benefits in society (64-65). The idea of fairness will always be controversial, especially with regard to wealth. Nevertheless, equal opportunity is simply the opportunity and the freedom to remove impediments within society that can be surmounted.(65).
Democracy: “…is a process with three characteristics: the exercise of power is accountable to those affected by it, civil rights and personal liberties are guaranteed, and citizens have relatively equal access to political resources and influence” (BER, 66). Democracy can manifest itself in society: in a corporation, in a government and in an economy. “A democratic firm is one that is owned by its employees and run by people who are elected by the employees” (BER, 557).“Democratic government is a way of organizing a government based on (1) accountability of officials through elections with widespread and equal voting rights and (2) civil liberties and personal freedoms” (BER, 557). “The third criterion for assessing an economic system is democracy. One important part of this criterion questions the extent to which the economic system promotes (or hinders) the democratic functioning of the government” (65-66). However, with regard to economic systems, it must be kept in mind that economic systems are also judged by efficiency and fairness as well. For example an economy can be efficient and undemocratic and unfair, such as slavery. (67).
Project Vote
Mission & Goals
Project Vote is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization devoted to providing resources to teach, encourage, and assemble marginalized groups such as low income, minorities and youth to vote. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>
Actions Taken
Since 1994 Project Vote has helped register more than 5.6 million low-income and minority voters through it's voter registration and Get-Out-the Vote programs. Project Vote has also taken actions such as advocacy, legal services, and research to ensure that minority groups are not prevented from registration and voting. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>
Get Out the Vote Historically the number of underrepresented American voters increased in the 2008 elections, but voter turnout has declined between presidential and mid-term elections. In order to combat this, in 2010 Project Vote worked with its partners in 12 states to encourage voters. They will focus on Black and Latino voters, new registrants and Americans under the Age of 30, all who were a large turnout in the 2008 election. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>
Election Administration Program The Election Administration Program (EA) is create to ensure that public policy grants access to the ballot. The program protects it's constituents rights by engaging in legal action when necessary. As a long term goal Project Vote is devoted to breaking down barriers that bar underrepresented voters from partaking in the registration and voting processes and also to encourage participation in elections. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>
Public Agency Registration Program The Public Agency and Registration Program is a joint action taken by Project Vote and Demos, a voting rights and electoral reform policy organization. This program was created to uphold the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which demands that states must offer voter registration to those in public assistance programs. The Public Agency Registration Program takes legal action when necessary to enforce the NVRA.<ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>
How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth Project Vote serves to combat Alperowitz's ideas of concentrated wealth that only serves the elite class. Project vote sees that low-income and minority Americans are isolated from the electoral process. In order to combat the inequality in voting, Project Vote serves to encourage and include more minority Americans to have a more representative vote. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>
Liberty
Democracy
How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will Project Action overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of Project Vote consistent with the ideals of social justice?
Center for Voting and Democracy (CVD)
Mission
Goals
Actions Taken
How does CVD's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth
Liberty
Democracy
How does CVD's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does CVD's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will CVD overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of CVD's consistent with the ideals of social justice?
Independent Progressive Politics Network (IPPS)
Mission
Goals
Actions Taken
How does IPPS's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth
Liberty
Democracy
How does IPPS's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does IPPS's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will IPPS overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of IPPS's consistent with the ideals of social justice?
Midwest Democracy Center (MDC)
Mission
Goals
Actions Taken
How does MDC's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth
Liberty
Democracy
How does MDC's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does MDC's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will MDC overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of MDC's consistent with the ideals of social justice?
The Labor Party
Mission
Goals
Actions Taken
How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth
Liberty
Democracy
How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will the Labor Party overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of the Labor Party's consistent with the ideals of social justice?
The New Party
Mission
Goals
Actions Taken
How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth
Liberty
Democracy
How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will the New Party overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of the New Party's consistent with the ideals of social justice?
The Working Families Party (WFP)
Mission
Goals
Actions Taken
How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?
Wealth
Liberty
Democracy
How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?
How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?
How will the WFP overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?
Efficiency
Fairness
Democracy
Are the goals of the WFP's consistent with the ideals of social justice?
References
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