Democracy Overwhelmed by Robert B Reich - Book Report/Review Example

University of Southern Queensland =========================== Fulfilling Lives Summary of Chapter 4: "DEMOCRACY OVERWHELMED" POL 1000 – Government, business and society Second assignment: Summary of a Chapter (1,485 words) Name of Student Student Number SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 4: "DEMOCRACY OVERWHELMED" BY ROBERT B. REICH Outline of Reich, Chapter 4 Exhibited in the table below is the outline of former United States of America Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich on the fourth chapter of his book. p. 131 - 132 Summary of the chapters argument emphasizing that more than three decades back, most of the American people have the notion that this democratic country was for the advantage of its constituents. However, during the past years, that notion has changed. An increasing number of Americans are observing that only the interests of a few are being favored. This is not only happening in America. Other nationalities have the same observation about their respective counties. There is prevalent deteriorating pattern of confidence and belief with their government. In the case of America, the evident reason is the intensifying part of money in the U.S. political system. These funds are being “donated” by big business entities to politicians. The reason on this onset of interplay of money with US politics is confusing. The essential evidence is through analyzing at what period the intensification commenced. The outpour of funds had puffed up. Remunerations of public relations professional lobbyists and lawyers in Washington increased. The price of real estate and homes in the nearby counties also accelerated. Washington has become one of those with the uppermost per capita incomes. p. 134 - 136 Summary of the role of lobbyists. The quantity of registered lobbyists in Washington increased. The amount of money spent on lobbying also zoomed in. The number of lawyers registered increased by almost five times. Politicians turned out to be reliant on funds from corporations. The shakedown of corporate America started in the 80s. p. 139 - 140 Reich argues that more than fifty per cent of the higher-ranking bureaucrats of the administration of ex-President Bill Clinton have turn out to be corporate lobbyists right after stepping down of office unlike with the three per cent of the retiring congressmen in the 70s who became lobbyists. The amount that the lobbyists charge for new clients doubled from 1995 to 2005. The fundamental dilemmas are big government and big money which result to numerous people willing to spend huge funds to influence the government. p. 141 - 143 Reich mentioned that another theory on the increasing outpour of corporate funds into politics is the conspiracy to usurp the machinery of government and co-opt both political parties. As commented by Lou Dobbs of CNN, government and large corporation is in a “class warfare” against the average working class. Most often, the disagreements at Congress are disputes between rival corporations or sectors or industries. These are also contested by public relations professionals and lobbyists in Washington. When one rival pays for access, the other one pays also. These business entities do this so as to counter the manipulation of the other. p. 150 - 151 Reich opined that the financial speculators are contrasting the gas bill. They were generating huge funds in the gas market. p. 185 - 167 Reich argues that the employer-supplier health care is a backdoor one hundred twenty-six-billion-a-year government health insurance system. This insurance system is previously up and working. Argument Outline of Reich, Chapter 4 The overall argument of Reich in Chapter 4 was that democracy in America has become less responsive to the people which results to a number of American people feeling more and more helpless. The 1970s marked the soaring of the U.S. economy. During that time, American capitalism had triumphed which eventually spreaded internationally. In the economic system of the United States of America, the interplay of labor, technology and natural resources is used to produce goods and services and eventually to distribute these goods and services. The way that they are organized and utilized shows the culture and political ideals of the nation. Currently, according to Reich, democracy in the U.S, is not felt. Dot Points: Arguments that Supports the Main Argument According to Reich, Americans' confidence in democracy is deteriorating. The same is happening in other nations (Bacon, 2010). Through the years, the depleting democracy are evident in various circumstances. He said that the likely reason for this is the expanding role of money in politics. He specifically pinpointed the funds coming from large corporations in the guise of donations to politicians. According to Reich, money is a by-product of the very feature of supercapitalism that has led to its economic triumph. It is escalating rivalry amongst enterprises for shareholders and clients (Bacon, 2010). Reich opined that corporate or business competition has spilled over into politics. Corporations are said to be gaining competitive advantage via public policy. This is resulting to decrease response to citizens' concerns. Reich traced the intensification of election campaign expenditures, the increasing quantity of registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C., the high funds spent on lobbyists, the escalating quantity of registered lawyers, and the revolving door between presidential and congressional staffs and lobbying firms -- much of it paid for with corporate money (Bacon, 2010). These lobbyists are trying to influence legislations. With their human nature, they are seldom satisfied. These big companies are giving away huge funds just to get the benefits that they can get in return for influencing the industry. Evidence for the First Argument In the argument stating that Americans are losing confidence in democracy, the evidence that Reich offer is that the whims of big business entities for their own gains have increased as rivalry amongst them has escalated. It has been like an arms race. It has become a dirty way to compete in the past years. Argument that supports the main argument is the account by Reich that the American voices have been drowned out primarily since big corporations are engaged in escalating competition for political outcomes that will be an advantage for themselves. Evidence for the Second Argument In the argument of Reich stating that corporate or business competition has spilled over into politics, America and its allies in Europe and Asia got into the supercapitalist mania wherein the concentrating wealth strangles self-governance, the evidence that Reich offer is that the concentration of income and richness have so corrupted the American politics (Abate, 2007). American capitalism is supposed to bring economic freedom. That is ideally very fundamental to capitalism. It is supposed to be advantageous due to its dynamism. It also offers lots of opportunities. Reich pointed that politics within the departments and agencies of government, the legislatures and others has come to be dominated by corporations seeking competitive advantage. He stressed that majority of the new regulations and legislations are at the behest of certain companies or segments of industries. Evidence for the Third Argument In the argument of Reich stating the intensification of election campaign expenditures, increasing quantity of registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C., the increasing funds spent on lobbyists, escalating quantity of registered lawyers, and revolving door between presidential and congressional staffs and lobbying firms, the evidence that Reich offer is that political candidates are starting to be more competitive. Many of the retiring members of congress are starting to become lobbyists in Washington. The cost of entering the political world is also rising steadily leading to a steady decline in political attention being paid to the issues of social fairness. What is Reich Arguing Against? Reich is arguing againts the opinion of other people. He is disagreeing with the Washington offiials. According to Reich, the American people are ignored in Washington. At that seat of government, the big number of lobbyists vie for congressional favors over selfish motives. Some politicians and lobbyists have came up with ridiculous laws. These laws are sometimes bennefiting the rich more. Distribution of wealth has not been achieved all these years. There are only a few hundres of wealthy people as compared to more than hundred millions of poor. What I found Interesting in the Chapter? In the chapter, I found the notion of Reich that the Congress and the government as serving special interests and not that of the citizenry as the most interesting. This is because the said view is like that of the Tea Partiers. The chapter reflected from my own experience. Through the years, I saw how the labor unions grow. Issue-oriented people, special interest groups as well government agencies are included in a kind of group that are self-serving. Almost everyone are motivated by self-purpose. Nothing much are truly for the welfare of the people vast majority of people. Most perks are self-serving. It also reflected the experience of my friends and family. They are living witnesses of how the American society has deterirated. These types of groups are fixing the rules. They also redistribute wealth. This they do even if that is to the disadvantage of the general population. The chapter is connected with something I am interested in. The big business, according to Reich are the main agent or catalyst in the corruption of the democratic process. These big businesses sometimes intervene with the affairs of the government. As a whole Reich made us aware of the current state of democracy in the United States of America. List of References Abate, Tom. Robert Reich: Don't blame Wal-Mart, we're getting what we ask for. ask for. Chronicle, 09 September 2007. Bacon, James Jr. A. Robert Reich, we hardly knew ye. The Examiner, 28 October 2010. Reich, Robert. B. 2007. Democracy Overwhelmed. Chapter 4. Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life. Knopf Doubleday Publishing. pp. 131-167. Read More