by Chrystal Mahan

Created on: October 13, 2009   Last Updated: October 20, 2009

Is Government Dominated By Big Businesses?

I believe Government is dominated by these big businesses.

Who really rules America? That's a question that has always been in much debate. Will that question every really be answered? The Populists wanted economic and political reforms aimed at taking from the rich and giving back to the "plain people." We all know the real saying behind this; take from the rich give to the poor. The Populist believe that yes, U.S. Democratic system is in fact dominated by business elites. The Pluralists argue that no single group can dominate; therefore the U.S. Democratic system is not run by the "power elite." Pluralists make the statement that thanks to new consumer, environmental and other citizen groups big businesses no longer (did it use to?) have a relationship with the Washington policy makers.

Bill Domhoff will argue that yes, these big "elite" businesses dominate the government. Owners and top level managers in the big business are the dominate groups. Their companies form together making "corporate communities." These large communities own the greatest share of income and wealth in the U.S. The government tends to listen to the larger groups and forget about the smaller. These "elite" companies make up 1% of the total population. They are 15.7% of the nation's yearly income, 37.2% own private wealth, 46.9% of the corporate stock and 62.4 % of all bonds. These groups have the largest number of all groups. These groups are holding the higher percentages, that means more voices to be heard in government. The people in these groups tend to be together in the same social groups. These social groups tend to follow and back up the government.

The power "elite" companies do not believe: (1) in creating jobs for the unemployed, (2) make health, unemployment, and welfare benefits more generous, (3) helping employees gain greater workplace right and protections and (4) help workers organize unions. They do not want to do these things because it would raise tax, increase wage and there is no government support for unions. Unions tend to be against the corporate rich. When corporate communities and government tend to fall for the same issues, of course it will seem like the only voice being heard is the larger companies.

According to Domhoff, corporate rich power does not mean lower class is totally powerless. There is an alternative theory: Pluralism. Pluralism says that there is no one dominant group, the power is held by the

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