Watch this video and note how the people on the street imagine America to be more equal than it actually is. It turns out that America has an extraordinarily high level of economic inequality -- much greater than any other advanced industrialized country in the world and far more unequal compared to countries like Sweden or Norway.
Here is my point: Wealthy and upper middle class elites are disproportionately represented in Congress. And, a very small number of very wealthy people own the vast majority of income and property in America. Wealthy American citizens exercise greater influence over Congress and own most of the stuff around the country -- poor and working class Americans exercise way less influence over Congress and own way less stuff in America.
What do you think?
Can a millionaire properly represent your economic interests? Does a millionaire know what it is like to be poor or middle class? Why do you suppose that poor and middle class people continue to elect millionaires to Congress? Could electing millionaires actually hurt poor and middle class Americans? Would America be more economically equal if more poor and working class citizens were elected to political office?
Can a millionaire properly represent your economic interests? Does a millionaire know what it is like to be poor or middle class? Why do you suppose that poor and middle class people continue to elect millionaires to Congress? Could electing millionaires actually hurt poor and middle class Americans? Would America be more economically equal if more poor and working class citizens were elected to political office?
I actually read an article about how employees of the seats in DC are having issues living off of the approximately $200,000 salary. This was due to having to have a place to stay in DC and having a residence outside of DC among other issues. These are not real working class issues. Most of us struggle to pay rent or a mortgage while working our asses off to do so, sacrificing our time with our families and loved ones. I do believe that in order to understand what the poor and middle class go through to better represent them, the highly paid officials should have to pick one month of the year and live off of the "average" income of a middle class family. Then they will actually be able to represent the needs of these classes.
ReplyDeleteWe are only allowed to pick who we think are the less corrupt to office. All of our candidates have money to campaign to gain our approval and to get our votes. I can only imagine that if campaigning was a level field for all who wanted to run for office, our choices would actually be more genuine and would be more beneficial to the other 99% of Americans that keep this country afloat (barely).
I agree with you completely, and I like what you added in the second paragraph. The millionaires are the ones who can afford to not go to work and go out and campaign. They are also the ones whoa can afford the campaigning. It would be amazing to see what it would be like if average americans could run for president or for seats in the house or senate.
DeleteI feel as if the wealthy politicians in the seats of D.C. are living to quite high standards. All of the representatives we have chosen to vote for are either wealthy or extremely rich. However, it is very expensive to live in D.C. due to the type of atmosphere and because it is the city. It is sad to believe that people living there making $20 an hour are making it, but not living in the way that had hoped to. I feel as if the wealthy representatives do not necessarily focus all of their attention on the needs of the wealthy.
ReplyDeleteAlthough they may not be able to relate to the needs of the middle-class as well as to the wealthy, I believe that they are primarily concerned with the entire working class, from lower to higher. It is common to attack members of Congress who have an extremely high salary compared to someone working at McDonalds. The question to Can a millionaire properly care about economic interests for all is yes. Although members of congress are wealthy, they can focus their interests towards everyone. That is how it needs to be. We are all equal. It is crucial for us to come together as a country and be able to forge unity. The problem is that no one ever seems to be able to work together. There is always going to be tension with the government and society that will only get worse.
In agreeing with your comment that there will always be tension, that is true. Even if there were middle class representatives in office, the rich would argue if their interests are being addressed.
DeleteIn the United States, it seems impossible to escape electing millionaires to office. They are the only ones who can afford to campaign. Unless some change is made to the system, this is how it is going to be. Most people don't even realize how much wealth inequality is present in their own country. Politicians think by having welfare programs such as food stamps and medicaid fixes the problem, but in reality it just tends to make people dependent on the government. So no, I don't believe that a millionaire can represent me. I also don't believe they wouldn't be able to understand what life is like for someone like me, who has to work to support myself and pay my way through college in order to hopefully better myself. Most of them have inherited their wealth; unfortunately, most people aren't so lucky. It would be nice to have the working-class play a more prominent role in politics, but it would take a lot of changes to make that happen.
ReplyDeleteAshley Tomlinson
PSCI 100:05
I don't think the extremely wealthy politicians can properly represent the lower classes because they do not know what it is actually like to be of the lower classes. Most rich people think that people are poor because the choices they make or that they do not work hard enough. The wealthy have a hard time grasping the idea that the lower class have a hard time catching up and being able to save money because it goes to bills and other expenses. I think that if the politicians took the time to sit down and talk to members of the lower classes they would be able to more properly represent them. I think that America would be more economically equal if we had a mixture of different classes/ backgrounds/ types of people in office so there would be more of a diverse and realistic representation of what our country really is.
ReplyDeleteIf all classes were represented properly, then there could actually be an equal representation for the rights and choices of the many.
DeleteI feel that it would take a lot for someone of the working class to be a poltician and represent us better. With the politicians we have now they stay in office for a very long time. Which isn't right because as the world keeps changing and generations keep changing the older people in office don't know how to represent the younger people because they don't know what they are going through. The older generation don't know how to work with the technology we have now a days and don't know how to connect with the younger generations. As for putting someone in office that can represent the working class would aso be hard becuase of how much campaigning is. Most wealthy people don't work their way up to being wealthy. These people are handed money by their family. They don't know what its like actually working for a living wage and strugglung to pay the bills and take care of a family. I believe if we wanted politicians to understand what it's like being apart of the working class they would have to live with a working class family and actually expierence it first hand. Which none of them would do anyways.
ReplyDeleteAmber Myers
PSCI 100:05
A very important point is the fact that in our system it is near impossible to be elected unless you have lots of money or are given money to campaign. However it is entirely possible for someone who is not a born millionaire to become a politician at the national level; they would just have to become millionaires through campaign funding and sponsorship. Realistically though, I suspect that the kind of person we are looking for, the one who would have our economic interests as their own, would be someone who joined the national politics as a member of the lower classes and remained a part of them throughout their career. Are there people like this in office right now? Probably. But the 66% millionaire statistic makes us angry, and we don't even ask what the other 33% is. They could be billionaires or average income people. What I do know is this quote from someone I cannot recall: The rich always sets up the middle class to fear the lower class, then steals all the money while everyone else is fighting. Is it good to have our law making body representing the interests of the upper class more than the rest of the people? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteEmily Cooper
PSCI 100, 9-10am
I do not feel as though a millionaire can properly represent our economic interests. There is only a handful of millionaires that know what it is like to live in the middle and lower class, but even then they do not know what it is like in our given day. I believe that the reason why we keep electing millionaires for Congress is because we see having money as power and so do millionaires. They are the ones that use their money to get what they want. Also I believe if we changed this common stigma, we would feel lost because many people do not like change. People especially do not like change when it comes to politics. So I feel as it would take a lot of work and many years to change the way people think in order to get a middle to lower class person working in Congress, or any form of politics when running the United States.
ReplyDeleteTess Hyre
PSCI 100
9-10:00AM
The main underlying issue that has caused our elected officials to be disproportionately wealthy is the sheer importance of money in modern campaigning. Modern campaigns are positively flooded in money, whether it comes from candidates' own pockets or from wealthy donors. The days of a politician like Andrew Johnson working as a tailor before entering politics and eventually becoming President are over, and we will be seeing nothing but the very wealthy in Congress and in the White House for the foreseeable future, whether or not they are sufficiently in touch with average Americans.
ReplyDeleteMike Morris
PSCI 100
MWF 10:10-11:00
I think it is vaguely possible for a millionaire to represent lower class income people, but it's not likely. It's also possible that they know what it's like to be poor as a good number of them were poor at one point in their lives. However, again, I don't think it's that likely or often that this will really affect their actions as much as it should. I am a firm believer that you should be able to keep what income and property you earn, and, contrary to common belief, a lot of millionaires (not all of them obviously) don't just sit around and get more money. In most cases it takes a ton of hard work, luck, and skill to get that wealthy. However, I do feel Americans should make a more concerted effort to equalize the income gap. This, I think, shouldn't be done with legislation, it should simply be done by people rising up and saying they want to get paid more. It obviously doesn't help that our government is so anchored around money. I also saw a comment about politicians having to live on minimum wage for a month. I have discussed that idea among my friends and I agree, but I think they should have to live off of either the average military pay for an E-4 or lower or live off of minimum wage. Their income should also not be considered essential in an 'emergency situation' such as the shutdown. The fact that they get to set the next term's pay is also outrageous. Personally I think all of them should get arrested and we should put people in office based off of a lottery system. As Douglas Adams said, the people who want to be in power are exactly the people who you should do everything you can not to let be in power.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the major issues I have with our government. I do not like how congress is made up of mostly wealthy or rich people. I have never liked this and I think it is wrong. I do not believe that a millionaire can properly represent my economic interests. I would rather have someone in office that is closer to my social class, so they can understand and represent me and others in the middle class. I really think that the millionaires that run congress do not truly understand how it is to be poor or middle class. These people in congress are continuing to get richer, and there are people everyday who are loosing their job. I think the reason that middle class or poor people continue to elect millionaires is due to the fact they have money and we don't. For the most part money means everything to people, and with money comes power. It is very hard to try to get a middle class person to win a major election. These middle class or poor people simply do not have enough money to go out and beat a millionaire in a campaign. I think electing millionaires could hurt poor and middle class people. I think that millionaires in office do not properly represent the middle and poor classes. I believe that these classes are going to continue to struggle to get their voices heard. I think America would be more economically equal if more poor or working class people held political offices. This would be a better well -rounded representation for all classes.
ReplyDeleteGrant Davis
PSCI 100:05
MWF 10:10-11
Can a millionaire represent my interests? Not really, most of them probably couldn't represent my interests. Most of them don't know what its like to be middle class. The reason people keep voting for millionaires is because they don't really have any other options. A poor person will never be able to run for Congress. I also don't know if there would be more equality if there were more poor and middle class people in Congress. It would be hard to say whether there would be an impact or not, and it will most likely never happen.
ReplyDeleteShawn Dunford
PSCI 100:05
10:10-11:00
I think the bigger question is whether it is possible to elect members of Congress that are not wealthy. Congressman have to have money to make it into office in this country. I don't think it is possible to elect a poor person to Congress with all the money that has to go into campaiging and etc. Therefore, we almost just have to deal with wealthy people getting elected and accept it unless the way our system runs changes. I do think wealthy people can look out for my best interests but will they? I'm sure there are some who can and do look out for my best interests but at the same time there will always be elected officials that look out for themselves. We complain about the wealthy representing us but the way our system is set up that is the most realistic option. Instead of people complaining about the wealthy representing them why don't they complain about the system first? The system would have to change before the people. However, it all depends on each person's point of view and if they have a problem with who is representing them.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that millionaires represent the overall American population at
ReplyDeleteall. They have no idea what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck or have a
minimum wage job. They think of America as a whole and not representing the
individual. They don't know what it's like to be middle class or poor. Many of
them have old money or parents that get them into office. They inherit alot of
their money and most are self entitled people. Not saying every politician is
corrupt but most are only thinking about there own self interest. I think
America keeps electing them because it's been so ingrained into us we wouldn't
think differently. Money is such a huge symbol to us that we think money is
power. People who have the most have the most power and influence. If America
does have a middle class politician I think it would make a difference. They
would have a voice and a say on the inside instead of just viewing from the
outside. However, I also don't think that will happen for a very long time. I
think we are so engrained into this process we don't think it can be different
or changed. I think we would need something huge to happen to make a difference
or an impact.
Maddy manfull
Psci 100
9:10-10
I think that a millionaire *could* represent my economic interests, depending on the type of person they were and the sort of background they came from. Millionaires are still human beings, and I would imagine that some of them would be able to understand lower classes and be able to protect them. At the same time, I also think that the opposite is true. It would really just depend on the millionaire and what sort of person they were.
ReplyDeleteThere have been millionaires who started out with nothing, and so obviously they would understand poverty. Unfortunately, I also believe that sometimes those who have made it to the upper class have forgotten what it was like to be lower--or at least they blissfully ignore it. I definitely believe that they can become spoiled and would find low class problems petty.
The poor/middle class of America probably keeps electing millionaires for the same reason everyone else elects millionaires. There's no one else to elect. You have to be rich to afford campaigning. They catch the spotlight because they paid for it. No one is going to know about someone who can't afford to plaster their name over the entire United States, and so they aren't going to get elected. I think it's fairly obvious from example that electing these people have hurt other classes, but I'm also pretty certain that middle class politicians wouldn't get anything done either. Simply because they would be more concerned about furthering their own agenda than the agenda of many. It's human nature.
I'm not sure if America would be more equal with more equal representation in politics. Maybe it would be. but maybe it wouldn't because of corruption. It depends on the people who are elected, and honestly anyone's opinion on that is just as valid or invalid as the next persons, because we've never had equal representation and probably never will.
Nanette Yessler
PSCI 100:04
9:10-10:00
I do not believe a wealthy person could actually represent my needs and wants in legislation. They do not feel the pressures that we do. I think it would be difficult for them to think of ways that could directly help us because they would have their own issues to resolve. The video illustrates how Americans don't realize that the division of wealth is very one-sided. Due to this, legislators are able to make sure they stay rich. For example, as discussed in class, congressman can pay around 14% on taxes while we pay much more than that. The fact that this happens show that the group of people that get into congress don't have our issues in mind.
ReplyDeleteMaybe. They could, it all depends if they were born with rich parents or poor parents. The electorial college won't let poor or middle class people run. Yes, it could haunt them, but what could we really do? We can only hope.
ReplyDeletePSCI 100
9:10-10
Sean Yarborough
I personally don't actually believe that we will ever have proper representation in the US. The fact that so many of our politicians have to be wealthy to be politically successful, and this will directly relate to all class conflict issues we have in our society. The representation that we encounter in this country is primarily not just wealth driven, but corporate driven as well, which is basically wealth, and it will never represent the working class properly at this point in our society.
ReplyDeleteI agree, there is no chance that the US will ever be even close to equal.
DeleteI think that a millionaire could look out for our economic interest if they care about the lives of people who are struggling, but that being said I do not think they will ever fully try to equally represent us because they care about their wealth so much. It is hard to tell whether or not a millionaire knows what it is like to be poor or unhealthy because not every millionaire is rich. I believe that the Millionaires selects other millionaires to continue to hold office because for one they have the money to campaign and get their names out there and for two they have their best interest in hands. Why would a person select someone who would change law and policies that wont help them gain any more money or may even take away from all the benefits they get. I do believe that electing millionaires could potentially affect the poor or middle class because they usually look at what benefits them first and then try to do something small for the underdogs aka middle class/poor. The wealthy are generally trying to look out for themselves and each other. Absolutely, America would be more equal if middle/poor class held office. I think that more people would get representation if all three classes were in office. It is not fair that only one group gets say in decisions made by the government especially because that is a very small group of the American population.
ReplyDeleteFelicia Hall
10:10-11
Psci 100
Now not all of millionaires are like this, but the majority of them do not care about our struggles and do not benefit us in any way. Millionaires don't really know what it's like to struggle and make ends meat every day of their lives. From my experiences of watching my parents and other struggle, it can be pretty brutal. They keep getting elected because only the rich have a viable path in this system to making it to high office. We elect millionaires over and over again and wonder why we're in the 99% and why the 1% has more wealth than all of us combined. If you keep letting the wolf take guard of your sheep, why do you still wonder why you're missing sheep............
ReplyDeleteIf we wanted to truly be equal, our government and representation would be 99% lower/mid class and 1% high class. Why is it that such a low population gets a say over all of our lives?
Nathan Lewellyn
PSCI 100.04
There is no way possible for a person who is a millionaire to represent someone who isn’t as fortunate to have millions of dollars; which almost all Americans. Someone who is a millionaire has absolutely no idea what it is like to be poor because they were more than likely born into the money. People continue to elect these people because they are either ignorant or they figure that there isn’t a way to get a middle class person in Congress. Electing millionaires have proven that they hurt the poor and middle class people. In my own personal opinion, I really do feel as if the would be more equal with middle class or even poorer people in office.
ReplyDeleteChris Grove
PSCI 10:10-11:00
It's not so much that they can't represent the lower class, I think it's that they don't want to. If they represented the poor, that would take money away from them.
DeleteLike many of my classmates have already said, I do think it might be possible for a millionaire to represent some of my interests, but it truly think it depends on how the millionaire got to the point of wealthiness. If an individual is born into money, is that person really going to understand any of the hardships of the middle class, lower middle class, or poor? I feel that it would be really difficult to do so. A politician might preach that he or she has our interests in mind, when that politician might really have no idea what our interests are and how those interests could possibly be represented. Individuals of middle lower middle, and poor classes continue to elect millionaires to represent them because there aren't other options. As we have discussed multiple times in class, so much money goes into not only developing a political campaign, but also even making it onto a ballot. So, we either vote for rich people we make ourselves believe would be able to represent us, or we don't vote at all. It is really difficult to imagine what the future would hold, but I think it might be possible for us to be more economically equal with a wider range of representation established in office.
ReplyDeleteEmily Daniels
PSCI 100:04
9:10 - 10:00
I think that most decisions made by Americans are made because we don't think there is another choice. When something has been a certain way for so long, you become accustomed to it. Then you get comfortable and that's dangerous. Being comfortable means that we have accepted our country as it is and don't have any plans on standing up and changing it. This sense of comfort also brings about ignorance. In the video, most people had absolutely no idea that the US had such extreme inequality. Before taking this course, I probably would have chosen the middle chart, but from class discussions I was able to make an immediate decision that the US was in fact the bottom chart with the most extreme inequality. We vote for rich people because there isn't any other option. Like I said, we have grown accustomed to having rich people run the world. We don't know anything different. Some may assume that rich means well educated, and well educated means qualifications to make decisions, and those qualifications mean you can run a country successfully. I don't think that is necessarily the case. The rich may be well educated and have great decision making skills, but those decisions they are making are only good because they are good for them. They have no way of knowing what the extreme vast majority of Americans actually need. Maybe they do know but they don't care. The upper .01% who have the most money and control like it that way and want to keep it that way, so why would they try to represent the poor people and make their lives better? Nothing will ever change because we will never stand up and change it. That would take too much work.
ReplyDeleteA millionaire definitely can not represent my economic interests because his/her economic interests are very different from mine. Most millionaires support policies which help them maintain their wealth or make them wealthier, and in turn those policies make the majority of the rest of the population poorer.
ReplyDeleteWhen these millionaires are buying "playhouses" costing a quarter of a million dollars for their kids, and many Americans can't even afford real houses, it is obvious that these millionaires do not understand what it is like to have to struggle the way many Americans do.
I think that poor and middle class people still vote for millionaires because that is all they know. It is impossible to even get on the ballot unless you have a lot of money. I believe that continuing to elect millionaires has been hurting poor and middle class Americans and will continue to increase the gap of inequality as the only interests represented in Congress are those of the wealthy. If people from the poor and middle class had more representation in Congress, Americans would be more economically equal because there would be someone challenging policies which make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Jessica Adkins
PSCI 100
MWF 9:10-10
Millionaires and other upper class people cannot represent the rest of us, I think that's clear. The 'poor' vote for the millionaires for several reasons: 1. during their campaigns, that difference in status is not focused on, instead, the politician's platform/ideas are focused on (which often times does not follow through once they're elected), 2. the poor believe (correctly) that they have no chance of running themselves, so much so that the very idea of running doesn't even cross most of their minds and 3) not so much a 'reason', but voting districts are 'gerrymandered', that is, their shape is defined and selected by those representatives based on the people's voting behaviore-since most will vote one way or another and don't realize 'not voting' is also just as much an 'expression of right' as not... Senators etal know this and use it.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way a rich person can in any way represent the poors economic interests. They are on two separate ends of the economic spectrum and have different ideals. The poor usually want to gain money and the rich want to hoard it. There is no way they can economically represent each other.
ReplyDeletePeople's responses to the pie charts are not really all that surprising. It's what we have came to expect to told by the news.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible for a millionaire to represent the people, for example 2pac was from the ghetto and worked his way to the top before he got shot. I think americans elect millionaires because they are the only ones anyone seams to notice. I'm reminded of the quote, "the squeaky wheel gets oil." Electing millionaires into office can hurt the middle class because, often they will submit legislation that will make there businesses flourish. I doubt it would help much to elect middle class people. This is because a middle class person can be paid off the same way the higher class is.
PSCI 100
9:10-10
Kenneth Blosser
I don't think a millionaire could represent the nation economically. Some millionaires do not know how to budget their money. Some don't understand what it is like to be poor or in the middle class. Having a politician in the middle class be elected would be beneficial for the US. Since few of us are rich, the middle class politicians knows what it is like for an average American to live life in this country. Millionaire politicians don't experience what an average paid American goes through in order to keep bills, mortgage, gas, and groceries paid for. They might overlook important issues that effect the middle class/poor American. Even though it's pretty much impossible for a middle class/poor individual to get elected for a political race due to lack of money, I think it would make the country more economically balanced. The middle class politician would know what to resolve right away and would probably budget their money fairly well.
ReplyDeleteIf the middle class captured the government, as we've discussed in class, I think everything would move toward a more equal distribution. The upper class claim to know about the hardships by the middle, working, and lower classes, but unless they have personally experienced it themselves, I don't feel like they have an accurate understanding of the lifestyle itself. I don't think election millionaires directly hurts the lower classes, but I feel it prevents things from moving forward and from benefiting those people.
ReplyDeletePSCI 100:05
10:10-11
Danielle Gesford
I feel as that electing millionaires does hurt the lower and middle classes. The rich cannot represent the poor's economic issues unless they have experience, which most of them don't. The poor wants to find a way to earn money while the rich focuses on them losing out on their money. To better our nation, I feel as that we should elect poor or middle class electives rather than the rich.
ReplyDeleteLavonte Hights
PSCI 10:10-11
After learning those facts, its not surprising to believe it. Many Americans believe that if someone has a lot of money then they are smart and have all the answers. That is not true at all. I'm not saying every smart person is dumb because thats not true. We are very fortunate to have millionaires that are rather smart and want to help people. All i'm saying is we should give the less fortunate a chance too. If you think about it, if we elect people who aren't millionaires, maybe the federal poverty rate won't be as high? I'm sure many of those people have families and will be more then willing to share some of their profit with their family...
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that a millionaire can properly represent really anyone's economic interest. They have no idea what it is like to struggle from week to week, or what its like to work hard for something they really want. They have no idea what it is like for the poor and middle classes in america. I think the poor and middle class people continue to elect rich people into office because they think they understand how to make money, by electing them they might find a way for the poor and middle class to start making money. I think they also look to them as smart people and that by electing these "Smart People" they will better the economy. I do believe that electing millionaires can hurt poor and middle class Americans because they aren't looking out for more ways for Americans to make money they are looking out for themselves instead. I think that if more poor and middle class citizens were elected to political offices that they would create more opportunities for jobs and education. They understand how many Americans have to live from week to week and they would probably work hard to make more opportunities for the poor and middle class Americans.
ReplyDeleteThis report does not suprize me at all. We as a whole in the USA have always been blinded about what the truth is. Most people don't want to fully understand the truth! That would mean they may have to do something to change it. The fact that we keep putting thes "fat-cats" in office in DC is outstanding. If said person has never seen what real poor life is like living how the hell is he/she going to be able to fully help the poor when he has no clue what its like!
ReplyDeleteLuke Everhart
I don't believe these wealthy congressmen can represent the people who elect them. Whole we elect wealthy people to represent our wants and needs, it's not because we like them, it is because they are the best option we have. People like us, the middle class and even lower, don't run for office simply because they do not have the money to run. I would much rather someone who knows the struggles of the people and have been there rather than someone who has been coddled with money and luxuries their whole life. A wealthy man cannot accurately represent my views and I believe more less wealthy people should be elected to accurately represent the population as a whole.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I don't believe a millionaire can properly represent my economic interests. If they had been born to poor parents and effectively earned their money, and still had memories of being poor, then maybe.
ReplyDeleteI think poor and middle class people continually elect millionaires to Congress out of a lack of options. Millionaires can outspend a non-millionaire. I believe electing millionaires, consistently and overtime hurts poor and middle class Americans, simply look at many millionaires' views on unemployment and welfare, I can guarantee you that they have never been on those programs.
I believe America would be closer to economic equality if more poor and working class citizens were elected to political office, but I feel that their education would lead to ill-informed decisions that effect millions of people.
Tim Graham
PSCI 100:04
MWF 0910-1000
I agree with everything up to the last paragraph. I believe that the likelihood of poor decisions could increase, but by and large people who have had to really work for a living are more pragmatic, aware of what's best for the people without concern for personal gain and generally straight-forward about their opinions / less likely to be underhanded because their self worth is tied to their word (i.e. they're more honorable in their words and actions).
DeleteF.M. Sperry
PSCI100
It most unlikely that a millionaire could understand economic issues of the middle class. A politican that grew up in the middle class might be able to but most of them are born into riches. Americans continues to vote for millionaires because what else is there to elect? Most people don't see how unjust it is because they don't realize how unequal the United States really is.
ReplyDeleteChristiana Hess
PSCI100:04
9:10-10:00
Q: Can a millionaire properly represent my economic interest?
ReplyDeleteA: Not likely as they're naturally more interested in theirs.
Q: Does a millionaire know what it is like to be poor or middle class?
A: Some do, having grown up and / or worked their way into the upper class. These are the best candidates for understanding the "lower classes", but how can you tell the difference between those who did and did not?
Q: Why do I suppose that poor and middle class people continue to elect millionaires to Congress?
A: Simple. That's what it takes to be able to afford just to campaign for office (not to mention the fees just to register as a candidate). There is no choice otherwise and the rich have seen to ensure it stays that way. More money = more power and those who have it get the capability to "rub elbows" with others of a like mind and wealth level (i.e. the corridors of power become unlocked when you' re rich enough).
Q: Could electing millionaires actually hurt poor and middle class Americans?
A: It already has and probably started back in the early 1800's. When you have access to the halls of power / control over legal policies, taxation policies, economic policies, trade policies and an inside ear to what the government is doing and planning on doing it gives you an incredible amount of power and control to wield in your own self-beneficial ways.
Q: Would America be more economically equal if more poor and working class citizens were elected to political office?
A: It might be better balanced than it presently is, but poor candidates would probably still not have the access to campaign assistance such as PACs, etc.
F.M. Sperry
PSCI100
I do not feel that a millionaire can properly represent my economic interest, but I do feel like they try. They are not evil and out to take away everyone's money. I cannot thoroughly answer if millionaires know what it feels like to be of a lower class, because everyone reaches wealth in their own way. People vote for whoever is running and the biggest names. It is very rare to have someone of the middle class or poor to run for office because of the expenses. I do not believe that electing millionaires hurts lower classes because I do not feel it is the intentions of elected officials. By that I mean, they are still trying to do what is best for this country and helping everyone is how to do so. Once again I am not sure with the last question. Its hard to say because economic inequality is the highest in America and it would be very hard to change.
ReplyDeleteI do not feel as though millionaires properly represent our economic system. Even though they could have once lived in the middle class, they are so much wealthier and higher up than the rest of America. I believe that middle class people continue to vote for these people in congress because they know how to handle money well. I don't believe that in electing these officials that it could harm anyone in the middle or lower class. People with that much money usually donate to charities, especially congressmen in order to make themselves look better. In electing people from the working class could technically be more"equal" because there would be different viewpoints on things. They could also do a little bit better of a job relating to most of America.
ReplyDeleteErin Phelan
PoliSci100 MWF 9:10-10
After all of these discussions, I now understand why my Dad gets so mad when it comes time to vote. Turns out, no matter what bs the candidate tells us, they aren't really representing us. I like to think that before they got to where they were, they were lower or middle class. But we continue to elect them because nobody knows any better! I definitely believe that it could hurt us. I don't really what's going on with Obama's plan or whatever, but I guess he's taxing the middle class more than the upper class who has more money in the first place! I think if we had someone who came from the same class and understood our hardships, equality would come around.
ReplyDeletepsci 100.05
DeleteMWF 10:10-11:00
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