عنوان

Billionaires and stealth politics /

022658609X

022658612X

9780226586090

9780226586120

9780226586267

Billionaires and stealth politics /

[Book]

Benjamin I. Page, Jason Seawright, Matthew J. Lacombe.

London :

The University of Chicago Press,

2019.

©2019

x, 221 pages ;

23 cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Who the billionaires are -- Stealth politics on taxes and social security -- Four billionaires up close -- Keeping quiet on social issues -- Reshaping state and local politics -- What is to be done about billionaires?.

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In 2016, when millions of Americans voted for Donald Trump, many believed his claims that personal wealth would free him from wealthy donors and allow him to "drain the swamp." But then Trump appointed several billionaires and multimillionaires to high-level positions and pursued billionaire-friendly policies, such as cutting corporate income taxes. Why the change from his fiery campaign rhetoric and promises to the working class? This should not be surprising, argue Benjamin I. Page, Jason Seawright, and Matthew J. Lacombe: As the gap between the wealthiest and the rest of us has widened, the few who hold one billion dollars or more in net worth have begun to play a more and more active part in politics - with serious consequences for democracy in the United States. Page, Seawright, and Lacombe argue that while political contributions offer a window onto billionaires' influence, especially on economic policy, they do not present a full picture of policy preferences and political actions. That is because on some of the most important issues, including taxation, immigration, and Social Security, billionaires have chosen to engage in "stealth politics." They try hard to influence public policy, making large contributions to political parties and policy-focused causes, leading policy-advocacy organizations, holding political fundraisers, and bundling others' contributions--all while rarely talking about public policy to the media. This means that their influence is not only unequal but also largely unaccountable to and unchallengeable by the American people. Stealth politics makes it difficult for ordinary citizens to know what billionaires are doing or mobilize against it.

Billionaires-- Political activity-- United States.

Rich people-- Political activity-- United States.

Wealth-- Political aspects.

Einflussnahme

Milliardär

Politics and government.

Politik

United States, Politics and government, 21st century.

United States.

USA

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7

7

Page, Benjamin I.

Lacombe, Matthew J.

Seawright, Jason

20200822102623.0

rda

[Book]

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