I
chose to write my blog on the journal article “Building a democracy: People or
corporations” by Marty Jezer and Randy Kehler. I found this journal article
through the databases in the Texas A&M Universities library. I determined
that the article was in fact a scholarly source by searching and locating the journal
in the ULRICH’S Periodical Directory; the content type verified that it is an academic
and scholarly source.
The article “Building a democracy: People or corporations”,
written by Marty Jezer and Randy Kehler puts a huge emphasis on the involvement
of money in politics; and also examines how money has corrupted the democratic
process and American values in a historical perspective. Marty and Randy (2006), both articulates this
message by stating, “while the right to
vote has been extended to all adult citizens regardless of race, creed,
religion, sex, or economic status, the value of the vote has been deflated by
the domination of the dollar” (2006, p. 57). The blatant truth in this
statement is important to the authors overall agenda, in informing the readers
to understand not only the present political atmosphere, but also the history of
the relationship of politics and money within the United States. The author’s
main topics within the article are the “History of Abuse”, the changes in
legislation allowing for Super PAC’s and corporations to dictate the elections,
and also the need for a “Grassroots Democracy Movement”.
The author makes his argument that money in politics is
corrupting the democratic system that was put in place by the Founding Fathers.
This claim is supported by the author’s examination of American History and in
particular the Compromise of 1877, Mark Hanna’s “free- wheeling” process of
campaign funding in the McKinley and Bryan’s presidential campaign and also by
describing politics of “the Gilded Age”. The author’s explanation of the needed
grassroots democracy movement acts as the solution to the authors problems with
our democratic system. The author lays out a list of alternative ways to
promote equality among the individuals, and to take the vote back away from the
corporations.
Overall, this article is very informative and conveys and
important message to the American people about the role of money in politics
and how it can be detrimental to the democratic system, if we don’t change it soon.
Even though this article was written in 1995, it still speaks true volume
today, and is still applicable to the politics in 2012. The author made valid
points and was very informative.
Jezer, Marty, and Randy Kehler.
"Building a democracy movement: People or corporations?" Social
Policy. 26.1 (1995): 57-63. TAMU Library Database. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
The entire time I was reading your post, all I could think of was "money is the root of all evil." I found the claim, "the value of the vote has been deflated by the domination of the dollar" extremely fascinating. It's sad that money determines who people respect nowadays. I know a couple people who barely graduated high school and make millions, although it is unrare, how can someone respect him more than someone who has a phD making less money. Just a thought, but this is a great article and really goes well in to your topic!
ReplyDeleteI find this post super interesting. I do not have a wide range of knowledge when it comes to politics. However, I find it fascinating what a role money plays in politics. What is even more interesting to me is the fact that this was written in 1995 and this is still information that is relavent... do we learn anything over the years?!
ReplyDelete