You Call This a Democracy? / Edition 1

by Paul Kivel

Overview

You Call This a Democracy? is a penetrating and troubling look at how the U.S. ruling class and the power elite dominate wealth, power and decision-making in all aspects of our lives and institutions. Arguing that the United States has always had a ruling class, this book does not focus on the current administration or rogue corporations, but presents a deeper, longer-term analysis of how the ruling class has created and uses the Constitution, corporations and the courts, as well as a host of other mechanisms such as tax laws, wars, buffer zones, and distractions, to dominate our society and accumulate wealth.

The book is carefully researched and referenced, and filled with numerous examples and illustrations. It is an indispensable resource for every person concerned about the undemocratic concentration of wealth and power in our society.

This revised second printing adds a new workshop and classroom friendly study guide which makes this an easy to use book for activists and educators focused on issues of poverty, inequality, multiculturalism, diversity, politics, and economic, racial, and gender justice. The new Afterword includes practical suggestions for incorporating democratic practice in our everyday family, classroom and workplace processes.

You Call This a Democracy? is being used in high school and college classes, in study groups, in religious based social justice projects, and by activists throughout the country because it provides a framework and common vocabulary to talk about issues of economic justice and to help guide people's everyday decisions and political involvement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781891843266
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/06/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.08(h) x 0.59(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations xii

Foreword Jim Hightower xiii

Preface xv

Where Are You in the Class System? xix

Class Chart

Introduction 1

Brief Definitions

The Impact on the Rest of Us of Having a Ruling Class

The Impact of the U.S. Ruling Class on the Rest of the World

A Short History of the U.S. Ruling Class 9

What is a Ruling Class? 15

A Ruling Class Is Not…

What Does the Economic Structure of the U.S. Look Like? 17

Who Makes Up the Ruling Class?

The Managerial Class

The Bottom of the Wealth Pyramid

The Power Elite

The Financial Elite

The U.S. Power Elite Is a Primary Component of the International Power Elite

Why Does Wealth Matter? 32

Income or Wealth?

Who Owns the United States?

Where Does Wealth Come From?

Speculative Wealth

Other Kinds of Wealth

Wealth and People of Color

Women and Wealth

How Do They Rule? The Constitution, Corporations, and the Courts 48

The Constitution

Corporations

The Courts

How Does the Power Elite Communicate? 56

Interlocking Directorships

Policy Formation Groups

Foundations

Think Tanks

Elite Universities

Elite Publications

How Do They Stay in Power? 69

Experts and Professionals

Lobbyists

(De)Regulation

Buying an Office

Giving at the (Corporate) Office

What Does This Money Buy?

Two-party System

Voting

How Do Members of the Ruling Class Increase Their Wealth? 79

Corporate Welfare

Military Incursions

International Debt

Arms and Armaments

Defense Spending

Privatization

Oil

Drugs and Drug Wars

Oil, Drugs, and Arms

"Free" Trade and "Free" Markets

Domestic Debt

Federal Reserve Bank

Corporate Crime

Preserving Their Wealth 90

Capital Gains Taxes

Tax-exempt Bonds

The Federal Debt

Home Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction

Tax Shelters

Charitable Deductions

Social Security

Passing on Their Wealth 93

Estate Tax Reductions

Gift Tax Exclusion

Inheritance

Trusts

Education

Children

Marriage

Integrating New Members into the Ruling Class

Protecting Themselves and Their Families Financially 101

Offshore Financial Havens

Bailouts

Insurance

Protecting Their Power 104

Dealing with Resistance in the U.S.

Dealing with Resistance in Other Countries

How Do Members of the Ruling Class Feel About Being Rich? 107

Are Members of the Ruling Class Good or Bad, Happy or Sad?

Why Don't We See Them? 110

Living Privately

Education of Children

Social Clubs

The Ruling Class and the Buffer Zone 114

Taking Care of People

Keeping Hope Alive

Controlling People

Managing the Buffer Zone

Philanthropy 120

Why We Don't Focus Attention on the Ruling Class: The Role of the Mass Media 125

Media Ownership

Media Bias

Media Tactics

Spin Control

Distractions 128

Wars Overseas

Fear

The Cycle of Interpersonal Violence

Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia

Anti-Jewish Fears

Lack of Time

Spectator Sports

Pornography and Prostitution

Shopping

Scandal, Corruption, and Drama in the Courtroom

Alcohol and Other Drugs

TV and Movies

Video Games and Computers

New Technological Gadgets

Legalized Gambling

The Myth of Equal Opportunity

Starting At the Top

Politicians

Businessmen

Who Decides? Who Benefits? Who Pays?: Public Policy Issues 141

"Big" Government, Deregulation, and Privatization

State's Rights

Which Side Are You on? 144

Tax Cuts

Estate Taxes

Regulation

Privatization

Health Care

Education

Labor

The Environment

International Solidarity and War

Immigration

Assessing Public Policy Issues and Political Candidates 151

Getting Information

Questions to Assess Public Policy Issues

Questions to Ask Political Candidates

Beyond Survival-Getting Together 153

Resistance 155

Afterword 160

Workshop/Study Guide 164

Resources

Endnotes 168

Glossary 179

Bibliography 185

Videography 208

Magazines 215

Organizations and Websites 216

Index 219

From the Author 227