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Democracy in America? : what has gone wrong and what we can do about it / Benjamin I. Page, Martin Gilens.

by Page, Benjamin I.

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The University of Chicago Press, 2017.

Democracy -- United States.

Pressure groups -- United States.

Rich people -- Political activity.

United States -- Politics and government -- 21st century.

9780226508962 (hc.)

369 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"America faces daunting problems: stagnant wages, high health care costs, neglected schools, deteriorating public services. The government consistently ignores the needs of its citizens, paying attention instead to donors and organized interests. Real issues are held hostage to demagoguery, partisanship beats practicality, and trust in government withers along with the social safety net. How did we get here? Through decades of dysfunctional government. Veteran political observers Benjamin I. Page and Martin Gilens marshal an unprecedented array of evidence to show that while other countries have responded to a rapidly changing economy by helping people who've been left behind, the United States has failed to do so. Instead, we have actually exacerbated inequality, enriching corporations and the wealthy while leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves. What’s the solution? More democracy. More opportunity for citizens to shape what their government does. We must change the way we choose candidates and conduct our elections, reform our governing institutions, and curb the power of money in politics. By doing so, we can reduce polarization and gridlock, address pressing challenges, and enact policies that truly reflect the interests of average Americans. Benjamin Page is a professor at Northwestern University. Martin Gilens is professor of politics at Princeton University. He is the author of Why Americans Hate Welfare and Affluence and Influence"--Provided by publisher.

Gilens, Martin.

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