In democracies, we're told, politicians exist to reflect and enact the popular will; but the truth is, politicians' primary occupation is thwarting the will of the people, in preference to the will of a small group of wealthy, powerful people.
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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/07/the-people-no/#water-flowing-uphill
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In a true democracy, politicians are subject to voter control (referendum, initiative). In pseudo-democracies, people can vote every few years, and that's it.
Wow, this would really cut executive pay. I love it. There’s an idea floating around called #Limitarianism, meaning we cap maximum wealth at some level like $10M and cap income, too.
We’re in a climate crisis largely due to the actions of these executives, so tax them out of existence.
"Majority of people in 40 countries want 4:1 maximum pay ratios for CEOs and their lowest-paid workers”
That's an empirical finding, based on a study of 1,779 policy outcomes, which concluded that:
> economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence.
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The policy preferences of the public would give the leadership of any mainstream party the fantods. Here's a remarkable thread where the economic anthropologist Jason Hickel summarizes recent polling on public preferences:
https://x.com/jasonhickel/status/1953126243118813556
* "Capitalism does more harm than good" (56% globally; 69% in France; 74% in India)
https://www.edelman.com/news-awards/2020-edelman-trust-barometer
* In 28 of 34 countries, the majority are anti-capitalist:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ecaf.12591
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https://jacobin.com/2023/03/socialism-right-wing-think-tank-polling-support-anti-capitalism
* 62% of Americans aged 18-30 "hold favorable views of socialism" (61% of Democrats have a positive view of socialism vs 50% who are positive on capitalism):
https://www.cato.org/blog/81-say-they-cant-afford-pay-higher-taxes-next-year
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* Majority of youth climate group members blame "a system that puts profit over people and planet" and 89% say that system is capitalism:
https://www.climatevanguard.org/publications-all/mapping-the-global-youth-climate-movement
* Majority support a national job guarantee (72% UK, 78% US; 79% France):
https://www.jasonhickel.org/blog/2023/11/24/how-popular-are-post-capitalist-ideas
* Majority of Americans support workplace democracy (unions, worker shareholders and board seats):
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* Majority of Britons support public ownership of services (education, healthcare, rail, water, postal service, parks); 64% of Americans support universal public health care; 64% support public options for internet, child care, and housing;
https://www.jasonhickel.org/blog/2023/11/24/how-popular-are-post-capitalist-ideas
* 74% of Britons support national, permanent rent-controls; 71% of Bay Staters and 55% of Californians agree:
https://www.jasonhickel.org/blog/2023/11/24/how-popular-are-post-capitalist-ideas
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https://www.jasonhickel.org/blog/2023/11/24/how-popular-are-post-capitalist-ideas
* 84% of Europeans support a millionaires' tax; 69% of Americans agree:
* Majority of people in 40 countries want 4:1 maximum pay ratios for CEOs and their lowest-paid workers:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691614549773
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