The following excerpt was written by Peter Serefine and first published on LibertyLighthouse.Substack.com. Click here to read the entire article there!
In 2014, a pivotal study by Professors Martin Gilens of Princeton University and Benjamin I. Page of Northwestern University exposed a fundamental flaw in America's system of government. Their research, titled "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens," revealed a disturbing reality: the average American citizen has almost no influence on public policy decisions. The study analyzed over 1,800 policy outcomes from 1981 to 2002, finding that economic elites and organized interest groups dominate the political process while the average voter's preferences are largely ignored.
The Study’s Findings: A Republic in Name Only?
The founding fathers envisioned a republic where the voices of all citizens would be heard, and the government would be accountable to the people. However, the Gilens and Page study suggests that the U.S. has drifted far from this ideal. The researchers found that public opinion has a "near-zero" impact on whether a bill becomes law. Instead, the preferences of the top 10% of income earners—those who can afford to influence the political process through lobbying and campaign contributions—hold significant sway over policy decisions.
This stark reality raises serious questions about the current state of American governance. If the average citizen’s voice is so diminished, then how can we claim to live in a true republic? The evidence suggests that the United States is increasingly governed by a small elite whose interests often diverge from the general public's.
The Growing Influence of Money in Politics
Money's influence in politics has only grown stronger since the period covered by the Gilens and Page study. The Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. FEC decision allowed unlimited corporate spending in elections, further empowering wealthy individuals and interest groups to shape the political landscape. In the 2020 election cycle, for instance, the top 100 donors to political campaigns spent an unprecedented $1.2 billion, highlighting the growing financial power of a tiny segment of the population.
Despite overwhelming public support, one of the most glaring examples of this influence is the failure to enact comprehensive drug pricing reform. In 2022, pharmaceutical companies spent over $300 million lobbying to prevent policies that would lower drug prices, demonstrating how moneyed interests can block reforms that would benefit the broader population.
The Urgent Need for Constitutional Reform
The disconnect between public opinion and public policy clearly indicates that the system is broken. Our nation's founders would be alarmed to see how far we have strayed from their vision of a government accountable to its citizens. To restore true representative government, we must pursue structural reforms that can counterbalance money's influence in politics.
One such reform would be to call an amendments convention, as outlined in Article V of the U.S. Constitution. An Article V convention would allow the people acting through their state legislatures to propose amendments that could impose term limits on federal officials and members of Congress, require fiscal responsibility, and restore the balance of power between the federal government and the states. These amendments could help reduce the influence of special interests by limiting the power of career politicians and returning government control to the people.
Taking Action: The Role of Convention of States Action
Convention of States Action is a grassroots movement dedicated to addressing the issues the Gilens and Page study highlighted. By invoking Article V, the convention process can propose amendments limiting the power of Washington elites and ensuring that the government once again reflects the people's will.
Now more than ever, it is crucial to support efforts to curb money's influence in politics and restore accountability to our government. By joining Convention of States Action's grassroots movement, we can take meaningful steps toward achieving the founders’ vision of a republic where all citizens have a voice in their government.
Reclaiming Our Republic
The findings of the Gilens and Page study serve as a stark reminder that the United States is in danger of losing its status as a true republic. The growing influence of money in politics has eroded the power of the average voter, leaving a small elite to shape the nation’s policies. But this trend can be reversed.
Through an Article V convention to propose amendments, we can enact reforms that will restore the balance of power and ensure that the government is once again responsive to the people's will. By taking action now, we can reclaim our republic and protect the principles of liberty and self-governance for future generations.
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