Changes and Practices Essential for the Well-Being of a State

Looking at the power structures within our society, we can use the sociological analysis of sociologists C. Wright Mills and Ralf Dahrendorf. These sociologists have similar opinions to the concept of power within our society. Starting with Mills, we learn through his readings that Power has to do with whatever decisions men make about the arrangements under which they live, and about the events which make up the history of their time (Mills, 1958). Mills tells us that we as citizens are powerless to those in government power. We learn through Mill’s power elite theory that those in a higher power or in an elite position such as the economy, government, and military are the ones who make the decisions. These elite subjugate the key leadership positions around us and the decisions they make have consequences for us, the citizens, or those who do not have much power. Those who are in the power elite or prominent positions enter these positions through education, their connections established from the place of education or simply through family. We are taught in this reading that those who are in power had power from the beginning and keep that power, it is not evenly distributed throughout our society. Looking at the viewpoint of power through Dahrendorf’s perspective, we can relate his perspective to class conflict. Dahrendorf states, “The history of all societies so far has been a history of class struggles” (Dahrendorf, 1958).

The elite theory believes that a small group consisting of powerful people holds the most power, and that this power is independent of a state's democratic elections process. Elite theory argues either that democracy is in all unrealistic, or that democracy is not able to be achieved within capitalism. Within the elite theory not everyone is going to have the power when making decisions only the most powerful group. Overall meaning the elite theory can determine the trajectory of the society, and therefore the conditions which the members of that society must exist and function. When considering who’s interest does the elite theory compromise it would be hard to find an answer considering that all these groups work together to protect each other’s

Synopsis of Rule of Law. The state can't compel supported religious action on its nationals by constraining them to pick amongst participation and their own particular intrinsically secured rights.

There is much debate in America about how its society has fallen under the cowl of social stratification resulting in the unforgiving rise of class inequality. It is becoming more and more clear these days that these beliefs have seemed to turn into truth in the last couple decades. New York Times columnist and Nobel prize winning economic professor Paul Krugman discusses why and how upward mobility has become increasingly difficult in the past decades in his article “The Death of Horatio Alger,” which was first published on December 18th 2003 in New York City. His thorough explanation makes it easy to understand just how close the United States is to being a true caste society and the imposing danger of such an event. Harvard professor

While different gatherings employ and impact the United States, the elite are the most equipped for doing as such. Their capacity to remain the most dissolvable socio-prudent class is unparalleled

Reading G. William Domhoff’s Who Rules America?: The Triumph of the Corporate Rich was an intriguing and challenging experience for me. My limited knowledge base of the American political class system mostly stems from high school US History classes and listening to my mom’s stories of her experiences in the corporate world. Therefore, I am aware that due to my prior lack of knowledge on the topics presented in Domhoff’s book, I may have misjudged some of his finer points. Part of my struggles may be largely due to the fact that Domhoff’s intended audience for Who Rules America? is other experts in the field of understanding the sociology of the corporate elite and their resources of power. However, I believe that the book has given me a better, if not complete, understanding of the corporate elite and how they stay in power.

How is the American meritocracy able to flourish as an elite selection mechanism when systems that serve the elite and disadvantage the majority non-elite are despised by the great majority of citizens? The answer, a simple one, is blindness. The elite selection mechanism could successfully hide behind the face of a meritocracy. Meritocratic systems are so highly regarded because they preach a value that is universally cherished, that prosperity is achieved by working hard. In the American Dream, the ultimate meritocratic ideal, success is not determined by ones origins but by how hard one works. This dream declares that all people, penniless or wealthy, have the opportunity to achieve upward mobility as long as they put their head down and work hard. The American Dream was created to serve all people. The American meritocracy was not.

The Elite theory describes government in three different parts. The composed of corporate, political, and military leaders. C. Wright Mills would rank their importance in that order. Even if there importance is not all the same. For the Elite theory  to work correctly "The leading men in each of the three domains of power- the warlords, the corporation chieftains, the political directorate-tend to come together to form the elite of America." This explains that all three parts most work together or else the system just will not work. The development of anything that happens in the government must coincidence the interests among them.

Robert Audi argues that citizens in a free democracy should make a difference between religion and between secular aspects or state and give them two separate domains. The one has nothing to do with the other and for each to be functioning well and for the state to be functioning effectively; religious convictions should be separated from political debate.

The purpose of the textbook, Who Rules America? by G. William Domhoff, is to explain his theory of Class Domination. My essay emphasises the relation of social class to power, the existence of a Corporate community, the relationship of the Corporate community to the upper class, and various methods used by the Corporate community to dominate the U.S Political System. Furthermore, my essay will discuss the potential limits to corporate power in America.

Wealth in relation to the upper class is defined not as income, but “the value of everything a person or family owns, minus any debts” (Domhoff 2005). Income according to Domhoff, “is what people earn from work, but also from dividends, interest, and any rents or royalties that are paid to them on properties they own” (Domhoff 2011). Those who own a great deal of wealth do not derive it from income, although they may have a high income resulting from the returns on their wealth. (Domhoff 2011) As for the power the upper class wields on politics, the economy and the government, it is indirectly carried out “through the activities of a wide variety of organizations and institutions. These organizations and institutions are financed and directed by those members of the upper class who have the interest and ability to involve themselves in protecting and enhancing the privileged social position of their class” (Domhoff 2005). This description of the upper class by Domhoff provides the basis for the argument that it institutionally exist - an organized, cohesive group set apart by its wealth and power.

The government in the United States supposedly revolves around American ideals such as equality and diversity; however, this is simply not the case as perpetuated by class inequalities. The meaning of democracy has been skewed in the United States to represent something entirely different than it did in 1776. Today, American democracy behaves more like an aristocracy, where the upper class exercises power within the government and state, influencing discourse and therefore the laws and resources in our country, which are purportedly “for the people”. Democracy is presumed to provide everyone with equal political power, but the government in today’s America, although seemingly following this ideal model, does not. Instead, the elite upper class has a monopoly over the political influence and are the sole benefactors from public policies due to their influence over the policy making process. The upper class has an overall benefit from class inequality, as it greatly impacts American ‘democracy’ through the significant power gained through money and status, leadership roles that impact government, and the influence in the policymaking process that creates upper class advantages.

Elites are people who get more of society’s valuables, such as wealth and respect (Wasserman, pg. 4). Power is “the ability to influence another’s behavior” (Wasserman, pg. 3). It can be through rewards, coercion, or persuasion. Legitimate power is power that is “accepted as right” (Wasserman, pg. 4) or chose by using an agreed upon procedure (Wasserman, pg. 5), or authority deserving obedience (Wasserman, pg. 5). Elites gain authority and authority gains power. People feel they should follow authority. This power and authority control politics. If elites are expected to get the most and are the ones who gain authority, etc., then the problem of economic inequality will affect the U.S. by lowering the number of people with legitimate power.

respect to religion: the right to be free from government-imposed religion and a right to practice

The power elite is able to exert power over society. The power elite’s control over politics demonstrates how inequality is functional. This validates the class-domination theory of power, which is distributed based on economic power. By controlling economic resources, the power elites political influence in government shapes law and those involved in government to the power elites benefit. In today’s American society these laws have impacted both the corporate community and the elite. Furthermore, the author’s portrayal of the elite displayed how the elite have control concerning choices in government policies, elections, and laws.