The Privileged Position Of Business Essays - Political Terminology

The Privileged Position Of Business THE PRIVILEGED POSITION OF BUSINESS Hudson first states what he believes to be the central assumption of the Pluralist description of American politics that there is no one dominant group in American Society. He argues that there is a dominant group, business. I agree that the pluralist ideology is wrong and that business is very dominant in our political society. He continues by stating that there are two faces of the political privilege of business. The first involves business actively manipulating the political system to obtain their political objectives. Hudson starts by stating that the first aspect, that of the active manipulating of the political system by business to obtain political objectives, can be divided into three aspects, business predominance in lobbying policy makers, the role of business in financing elections, and messages favorable to business in the media, schools, and universities. I will first discuss his views on the predominance of business in lobbying policy makers. He argues that the pluralist theory is wrong in determining the significance of representativeness of these groups and should instead see the extent to which these groups represent one societal interest that of business. I agree that there are many interest groups but a majority of them are in some way lobbying for business. I also believe that the majority of the people know that this is going on and dont like it and would like to see a change. Next Hudson discusses the businesses role in providing finding for elections. The business that contribute money can expect to be heard by the elected officials they have helped. He states that business dominates lobby groups as well as dominates the universe of campaign contributions. I believe that this gives businesses a huge advantage and also I believe that this is the major reason business predominates over politics in our society. And the more closely you look at this issue the more clearly you see the money these businesses contribute to candidates who are in effect already pro-business then they become even more for business when they know this will in all probability get them re-elected. I definitely agree that this poses a real problem and needs to be dealt with. In addition, business controls citizen access to information through ownership of the media. I agree with this completely. I was surprised to read that most of the mass communication industry is now concentrated in about twenty giant holding companies. The idea that newspapers and television are businesses themselves and project pro-business views is a given. But also other businesses pay for them through advertising. I do agree that this is going on but I am not sure of the effect that it has. Hudson then describes the second face the more subtle of the faces of which most of us fail to think about. This face is the power we give to business to make societies crucial economic decisions. He states that leaving important societal decisions to the market means dividing authority for important social decisions between two sets of rulers and that in any capitalist market system government officials and businessmen rule. Where we can somewhat control our government officials we cant control businessmen. I again agree that this is a problem which needs to be dealt with. But I really had never thought of this before. And I agree that this places business above government in making economic decisions which the public should have a lot more say so in. Lastly, Hudson discusses why business privilege is a threat to democracy. He sets out four ways in which it is a threat. First, is that the full range of political interests in society are not equally represented. I definitely agree that this is a threat because ordinary people even people associated with non-business related interest groups are overlooked because business has more money and therefore more power to persuade politicians. Second, business power restricts the agenda of policy alternatives seriously debated and discussed when public policy is formulated. Third, business power undermines the development of an effective citizenry. And, fourth business privilege results in substantive policies that are contrary to the needs and interest of a majority of Americans. Political Issues