Details

Subject(s)

• Campaign funds—United States [Browse]
• Globalization—Political aspects—United States [Browse]
• Income distribution—United States [Browse]
• United States—Politics and government [Browse]

Summary note

Because political campaigns in the United States are privately funded, America's political system is heavily biased toward the interests of wealthy campaign contributors. As a result, government policies have largely ignored the growth in income inequality caused by technological change and economic globalization. This omission has been tolerated because most Americans do not support interventionist government policies. They believe that the government serves the interests of the campaign donors rather than the public. This skepticism concerning the public sector's fairness must be overcome before effective programs to offset mounting inequality can be implemented. Though in recent years legislation to reform the financing of political campaigns has been adopted, private wealth continues to dominate the political process. Political cynicism therefore persists. A voluntary system of public funding of candidates for office is required to generate the trust in the public sector necessary to reverse the trend toward inequality.

Notes

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Contents

• The economics of income inequality
• The politics of inequality
• The funding and biases of American politics
• History and reform efforts
• Distrust of government
• The need for public financing
• Organizing for democracy.

Show 4 more Contents items

Other title(s)

• Democracy, America, & the Age of Globalization
• Cambridge University Press. Political science.

ISBN

9780511756108 (ebook)

Statement on language in description

Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...