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checkbook democracy: Checkbook Democracy Darrell M. West, 2000 In this lively and provocative book, a political science professor looks at how politics has become such a money chase, why money has become such a pernicious influence on public debate, and what can be done to redeem the corrupted system. Notes & Index. |
checkbook democracy: The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile David Barsamian, Arundhati Roy, 2004 A skillful interviewer can reveal aspects of a writer's voice in simple yet telling ways. As a novelist, Arundhati Roy is known for her lush language and intricate structure. As a political essayist, her prose is searching and fierce. All of these qualities shine through in the interviews collected by David Barsamian for Globalizing Dissent: Converations with Arundhati Roy. New and devoted readers will find that these exchanges, recorded between 2001 and 2003, add to their appreciation of Roy's previous work. Whether discussing her childhood or the problems of translation in a multilingual society, Roy and Barsamian, the producer and host of Alternative Radio, engage in a lively and accessible manner. Speaking candidly and casually, Roy describes her participation in a demonstration against the Indian dam program as, absolutely fantastic. She jokes that her Supreme Court charge for corrupting public morality--in the case of her novel The God of Small Things--should have been changed to further corrupting public morality. She calls on her training as an architect to explain what she means by the physics of power. Like a house of cards, she argues that unfettered power . . . cannot go berserk like this and expect to hold it all together. Roy has been acclaimed for her courage (Salman Rushdie) and her eloquence (Kirkus Reviews), and her writing has been described as a banquet for the senses (Newsweek). She has found a readership among fiction enthusiasts and political activists. Globalizing Dissent captures Roy speaking one-on-one to her audience, revealing her intense and wide-ranging intellect, her very personal voice, and her opinion on momentous political events. Arundhati Roy's novel The God of Small Things was awarded the Booker Prize in 1997. She is the recipient of the 2002 Lannan Foundation Prize for Cultural Freedom. |
checkbook democracy: Comparing Democracies Lawrence LeDuc, Richard G Niemi, Pippa Norris, 2009-12-15 The benchmark first and second editions of Comparing Democracies represented essential guides to the global study of elections. Reflecting recent developments in the field, this timely third edition gives an indispensable state-of-the art review of the whole field from the world's leading international scholars. With a completely new thematic introduction which explores how democracy is built and sustained, thoroughly updated chapters (many of which are also new) , the third edition provides a theoretical and comparative understanding of the major topics related to elections and introduces important work on key new areas. Comparing Democracies, third edition will remain a must-read for students and lecturers of elections and voting behaviour, comparative politics, parties, and democracy. Contents: Introduction: Building and Sustaining Democracy Lawrence LeDuc, Richard G. Niemi, and Pippa Norris PART I: ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES Electoral Systems and Election Management Elisabeth Carter and David M. Farrell Political Parties and Party Systems Susan E. Scarrow Party and Campaign Finance Ingrid van Biezen Election Campaigns Christopher Wlezien Campaign Communications and Media Claes H. de Vreese PART II: PUBLIC OPINION AND VOTING Ideology, Partisanship and Democratic Development Russell J. Dalton Political Participation André Blais Elections and the Economy Timothy Hellwig Women and Elections Marian Sawer Conclusion The Consequences of Elections G. Bingham Powell |
checkbook democracy: Economy for and Against Democracy Keith Hart, 2015-10-01 Political constitutions alone do not guarantee democracy; a degree of economic equality is also essential. Yet contemporary economies, dominated as they are by global finance and political rent-seekers, often block the realization of democracy. The comparative essays and case studies of this volume examine the contradictory relationship between the economy and democracy and highlight the struggles and visions needed to make things more equitable. They explore how our collective aspirations for greater democracy might be informed by serious empirical research on the human economy today. If we want a better world, we must act on existing social realities. |
checkbook democracy: Corruption and Democracy Council of Europe. Octopus Programme, 2008-01-01 Political corruption contributes to the decline of citizens' trust and confidence in democracy and weakens democratic principles and processes. The contributions in this book identify risks that corruption poses to the future of democracy in Europe, and propose a wide range of measures for action which are aimed at preventing political corruption (including undue influence on the justice system), enhancing transparency and accountability, and rebuilding confidence in democracy.--Publisher's description. |
checkbook democracy: Corporate Public Affairs Otto Lerbinger, 2006-08-15 Exploring the increasing interest in public affairs by organizations, the author indicates that more and more frequently corporations are establishing public affairs positions - typically within public relations departments - to respond to issues and concerns arising out of the sociopolitical environment in which the corporation functions. |
checkbook democracy: Checkbook Democracy Darrell M. West, 2000 In this lively and provocative book, a political science professor looks at how politics has become such a money chase, why money has become such a pernicious influence on public debate, and what can be done to redeem the corrupted system. Notes & Index. |
checkbook democracy: Congressional Record United States. Congress, 1995 |
checkbook democracy: The State and Illegality in Indonesia E. Aspinall, G. van Klinken, 2011-01-01 The popular 1998 reformasi movement that brought down President Suharto’s regime demanded an end to illegal practices by state officials, from human rights abuse to nepotistic investments. Yet today, such practices have proven more resistant to reform than people had hoped. Many have said corruption in Indonesia is entrenched. We argue it is precisely this entrenched character that requires attention. What is state illegality entrenched in and how does it become entrenched? This involves studying actual cases. Our observations led us to rethink fundamental ideas about the nature of the state in Indonesia, especially regarding its socially embedded character. We conclude that illegal practices by state officials are not just aberrations to the state, they are the state. Almost invariably, illegality occurs as part of collective, patterned, organized and collaborative acts, linked to the competition for political power and access to state resources. While obviously excluding many without connections, corrupt behaviour also plays integrative and stabilizing functions. Especially at the lower end of the social ladder, it gets a lot of things done and is often considered legitimate. This book may be read as a defence of area studies approaches. Without the insights that grew from applying our area studies skills, we would still be constrained by highly stylised notions of the state, which bear little resemblance to the state’s actual workings. The struggle against corruption is a long-term political process. Instead of trying to depoliticize it, we believe the key to progress is greater popular participation. With contributions from Simon Butt, Robert Cribb, Howard Dick, Michele Ford, Jun Honna, Tim Lindsey, Lenore Lyons, John McCarthy, Ross McLeod, Marcus Mietzner, Jeremy Mulholland, Gerben Nooteboom, J Danang Widoyoko and Ian Wilson. This book is the result of a series of workshops supported, among others, by the Australian-Netherlands Research Collaboration (ANRC). |
checkbook democracy: Election Reform Alan Marzilli, 2009 Questions about the electoral system are answered. |
checkbook democracy: How American Politics Works Richard J. Gelm, 2009-03-26 American politics is criticized and belittled by media critics and the public, yet the system is held out as a model for the world. The paradox of this simultaneous cynicism and adulation is rooted in the conflict between the human motives that drive politics. Crisply and clearly written with numerous historical examples, How American Politics Works explains the complex and sometimes confusing American political system in a vibrant and accessible light. Documented with recent and historical scholarship presented clearly in laymen’s terms, How American Politics Works explores the multiple dimensions of politics and the source of Americans’ disillusionment with their government through the “four Ps”: Philosophy, Pragmatism, Personality and Profit. Philosophical and moral principles underpin the key political institutions in America, but values are challenged in the quest to achieve workable political solutions. Policy is rarely made to conform to lofty principles alone. It often results from short-term incremental compromise, driven by people in pursuit of the public good and their own personal self-interest and profit. How American Politics Works explains the inner workings of the American political system, including the power of ideas, political compromise, powerful personalities and the preeminent position of money. While Americans’ high ideals are often illusive in the rough and tumble of political battles, and the public’s trust is bruised with every political scandal, balancing idealism and individual virtue with ambition and self-interest is the dynamic and safeguard of American politics. How American Politics Works offers a comprehensive presentation of the realities, challenges and possibilities of the American political system to bring an understanding, fascination and dedication to the wider public. |
checkbook democracy: Votes, Money, And The Clinton Impeachment Irwin Morris, 2018-03-09 In the first in-depth examination of politics of the Clinton impeachment, Morris looks at the impact of local constituencies on impeachment rather than the popular press focus on partisan animosity and ethical standards. Though most legislators sided with their constituents on the issue of impeachment, a significant number—nearly all Republican—did not. Using the most recent work on the impact of money on elections, Morris investigates the financial dynamics of the Clinton impeachment and argues that our current system of campaign finance enabled House Republicans to impeach the President and provided them with the means to retain their majority in the House. Morris also argues that money (and the ability to raise it) play a far more important role in the American political system than previously realized, often determining the winners and losers in the most important controversies and conflicts facing the nation. |
checkbook democracy: Influence and Power Ruth Zimmerling, 2005-07-19 Exact but not exacting, this is a fine work of overview and analysis; it makes an excellent contribution to the literature on power and freedom. Philip Pettit, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Princeton University In this work, the author assumes the task of a ‘logical clean-up’ – an extremely valuable contribution to the promotion of scientific rigour and clarity in political scholarship. [This book] gives the reader orientation in a conceptual jungle. [It is] an excellent analysis of the relationships between normative and social power. Ernesto Garzón Valdés, Prof. em. |
checkbook democracy: Veering Right Charles Tiefer, 2006-02-27 Tiefer has constructed a meticulous, rigorous, critical analysis of Bush Administration initiatives that he contends circumvent legal and public scrutiny. |
checkbook democracy: The Rise and Fall of the Media Establishment NA NA, 2016-09-27 Darrell West argues against prevailing wisdom that the media has increased in influence in the past decade. Covering over 200 years of American history, beginning in colonial America and ending with the present day, The Rise and Fall of the Media Establishment provides an overview of the media in various key stages of American History, paying particular attention to the rise and fall in influence of the media elite. West organizes the book into five distinct media eras: the Partisan, Commercial, Objective, Interpretive, and Fragmented Media. Each chapter, organized around these media eras, includes case studies that illustrate the theme of that chapter. Ideal for the general reader as well as the academic, The Rise and Fall of the Media Establishment offers an accessible, engaging book with a challenging thesis. |
checkbook democracy: Formative Acts Stephen Skowronek, Matthew Glassman, 2008-08-20 Seventeen essays illuminate critical junctures in American political development—from the social movements for women's suffrage, civil rights, and workers' rights, to Reconstruction, to the regulation of prescription drugs—as vantage points from which to examine how change is enacted. |
checkbook democracy: Money and Free Speech Melvin I. Urofsky, 2005 Money greases the wheels of American politics from the local level to the White House. In the 2004 presidential campaign, President George W. Bush alone raised nearly $400 million in private and public funds—nearly twenty times the combined total raised by John Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960—to defeat challenger John F. Kerry, further fueling anxiety over the power of money to dictate political results. Melvin Urofsky, one of our nation's most respected legal historians, takes a fresh look at efforts to rein in campaign spending and counter efforts in the courts to preserve the status quo. He offers a thoughtful and balanced overview of campaign finance reform and the legal responses to it, from the Progressive era through the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in McConnell v. FEC (2003) and its impact on the 2004 election. Urofsky focuses especially on the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act and 2002 McCain-Feingold or Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), and on challenges to both in the Supreme Court. In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Court upheld contribution limits but struck down expenditure caps on First Amendment grounds. In McConnell it upheld the key provisions of McCain-Feingold. In both cases, however, opponents argued that congressional control of campaign financing was an unconstitutional infringement of the free speech rights of campaign contributors. Urofsky deftly steers the reader through this contentious and complex history, revealing how both Congress and the courts have navigated uneasily between the Scylla of potential corruption and the Charybdis of suppressing political speech. Ironically, despite the Court's decision upholding McCain-Feingold, the 2004 presidential election was the most expensive in history—because, as Urofsky notes, money is the mother's milk of politics and both candidates and donors will always find ways to keep it flowing. His book provides an excellent and succinct guide to the controversies and historical debates emerging from that fact. |
checkbook democracy: State and Local Politics David Berman, 2015-02-18 Politics at the state and local level has never been more interesting than in our devolutionary age. This popular text is the most concise, readable, and current introduction to the field. Now in its ninth edition, the book keeps its focus on the varied and changing political and economic environments in which state and local governments function, and their strengths and weaknesses in key areas of public policy. The text is enlivened by boxed sections that relate individual experiences or highlight particular issues and developments. Topics covered in this edition include the drive toward devolution in the federal system; fiscal constraints; political accountability; affirmative action; majority-minority districts; and changing approaches to welfare, education, land use, and law enforcement. |
checkbook democracy: Informational Bulletin Wisconsin. Legislature. Legislative Reference Bureau, 1993 |
checkbook democracy: The Oxford Handbook of Civil Society Michael Edwards, 2013-07-04 Broadly speaking, The Oxford Handbook of Civil Society views the topic of civil society through three prisms: as a part of society (voluntary associations), as a kind of society (marked out by certain social norms), and as a space for citizen action and engagement (the public square or sphere). |
checkbook democracy: Communications Policy and the Public Interest Patricia Aufderheide, 1999-01-15 The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 inaugurated a new and highly volatile era in telecommunications. The first major overhaul of U.S. communications law since 1934--when no one had a television set, a cordless phone, or a computer--the Act was spurred into being by broad shifts in technology use. Equally important, this book shows, the new law reflects important changes in our notions of the purpose of communications regulation and how it should be deployed. Focusing on the evolution of the concept of the public interest, Aufderheide examines how and why the legislation was developed, provides a thematic analysis of the Act itself, and charts its intended and unintended effects in business and policy. An abridged version of the Act is included, as are the Supreme Court decision that struck down one of its clauses, the Communications Decency Act, and a variety of pertinent speeches and policy arguments. Readers are also guided to a range of organizations and websites that offer legal updates and policy information. Finalist, McGannon Center Award for Social and Ethical Relevance in Communication Policy Research |
checkbook democracy: Crowded Airwaves James A. Thurber, Candice J. Nelson, David A. Dulio, 2001-09-19 Political advertising plays a key role in modern electioneering and has formed part of political campaigns since the earliest federal elections were held in the United States. As modes of mass communication have evolved, so have the venues for campaign advertising—from newspapers to radio and television, and today, the Internet. Not only have the outlets for political advertising expanded over the past twenty years, so have the number of groups using it to convey information and advance their points of view. Because political advertising has become such a pervasive medium for candidates, political parties, and special interest groups, understanding its role in election campaigns becomes all the more important. Crowded Airwaves gathers some of the most significant new work in American political advertising and communication. The contributors provide an objective and balanced analysis of political advertising: its causes, its growth, and its consequences on elections in the United States. The chapters in this volume tackle three of the most interesting and most complicated issues in political advertising today: the characterization of ads and the need to measure their impact; the agenda-setting and priming effects of ads; and the role and implications of issue advertising for the electorate. The contributors focus in particular on the effects and consequences of negative advertising. Crowded Airwaves will appeal to readers who are interested in political campaigns and communication. It will be of special importance to those concerned with the tone and content of electoral campaigns and political discourse. |
checkbook democracy: Black Money and Economic Crimes Dr. A.K. Saxena, 2021-08-03 In the modern economic system, Black Money refers to funds earned in the black market, on which income and other taxes have not been paid. The total amount of black money deposited in foreign banks by Indians is unknown, but one estimate by an expert reveals that the black money held by Indians, in foreign banks is more than all the black money, hoarded by people in the rest of the world, combined together. While official numbers are not available, Swiss banking personnel have also said that the largest depositors of illegal foreign money in Switzerland are Indians. Black Money is an economic term, hard to define, accurately. Black Money is also sometimes used for payments to evade tax. However, this is a mild form of black money. This money in fact is obtained, illegally and is partially suppressed. A popular way for criminals to launder black money in property is to set up complex structures. In this way, they try to see that the money flows out. This book on this subject should certainly prove to be an asset for all scholars, researchers and social activists Table of Contents Preface....................................... ix Introduction............................... 1 Definition of Black Money • Birth of Black Money • Burning Topic • Use of Black Money • Controlling Black Money • Roots and Causes of Black Money • Black Money Scenario • Another Definition • Mid-form of Black Money • Art of Spending • Repentance Scheme • Black Money in Swiss Banks • The Modus Operandi • Mauritius Route • Non-sufficient Funds • Implementation Black Money in India..................... 33 An Overview • Sources of Black Money • Parallel Economy • Political and Administrative Corruption • Indian Politics and Black Money • Remedy to Corruption • Failed Policies • Current Scene • Baba Ramdev and his Individual “Satyagraha” • Industries and Black Money • Poverty, Industrial Scam and Corruption • Illicit Means Adopted • Tax Information Exchange Agreement • Economics of Corruption • Remittance Services • Cybercrime • White-collar Crimes • Terrorist Financing • Human Trafficking • Court Cases Impact of Black Money on Indian Economy 71 Effects and Aftereffects • Other Effects • Various Causes of Black Money • Effects of Black Income • Impact on Common Man • Inflation • Speculative Investments • Major Tax Havens • State of Indian Economy Indian Government’s Actions against Black Money................................ 81 Law against Black Money • Income Tax Department’s Role • Various Measures Undertaken Money Laundering........................ 95 Disguising Illegal Sources • General Aspects • Methods • Enforcement • Laws by Region • Locations • Castle Bank and Trust • FIMACO • Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act • Legislative History • Money Laundering Control Act • Money Mule • Nugan Hand Bank • Founding • Parcel Mule Scam • Russian Mafia Unlawful Transactions................. 129 Cheque Fraud • Types of Cheque Fraud • Bad Cheque Writing • Cheque Kiting • Bad Cheque Restitution Programme • Methods • Circular Kiting • ChexSystems • Services • Overdraft • Shared Cheque Authorisation Network Black Marketing........................... 155 Background • Transportation Providers • Modern Examples Insider Trading............................ 169 Definition of Insider • Legal Insider Trading • Illegal Insider Trading • Liability for Insider Trading • Tracking Insider Trades • Common Law Menace of Corruption................... 181 Etymology • Areas of Corruption • Corrupt Activities • Bid Rigging • Bribery • Cartel • Collusion • Cronyism Corruption in India....................... 207 An Overview • The Background • Politics • Bureaucracy • Land and Property • Income Tax Department • Judiciary • Armed Forces • Medicine • Religious Institutions • Education • Protectors against Corruption • Socioeconomic Issues • Economic Issues • Violence Organized Crimes......................... 223 The Background • Theoretical Background • Critical Criminology and Sociology • Models of Organised Crime • Individual Difference • Violence The Scams.................................... 249 Lottery Scam • Charity Scams • Fraud Recovery Scams • Pet-Scams • Rental Scams • Attorney Collection Scams Controlling Financial Crimes......... 255 Various Organisations • Directorate General of Economic Enforcement • Directorate of Revenue Intelligence • Economic Intelligence Council • Various Members • Financial Crimes Enforcement Network • Hawala • Financial Transaction Centre • Guardia di Finanza • Different Roles • Anti-drug Operations • Chiasso Financial Smuggling Case • Unit Awards • Special Departments • Mobile Phone Financial Services • Market Abuse • Market Manipulation • Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera • Department of Customs and Special Taxes • Territorial Services • Armament and Equipment • Slush Fund • the United States Secret Service • Uniformed Division • United Nations Convention against Corruption Anti-corruption movement in India. 299 Background • India against Corruption Movement • August Protests • Vote Bank against Corruption • Political Support • Jan Lokpal Bill • Use of Cyberspace • Government’s Response • Political Response to Jantar Mantar Protests • Ramlila Ground Protests • Police Action against Demonstration • Aftermath of the Protests • Civil Society Response • Suo Moto Cognisance by the Supreme Court • Protest Timeline Laws in Various Countries............. 327 International Laws • Indian Laws against Corruption • The Acts • The Amended Act • Patronage • Ecclesiastical • Price-Fixing • Criticism on Legislation Bibliography................................ 345 Index.......................................... 363 |
checkbook democracy: Media, Profit, and Politics Joe Harper, Thom Yantek, 2003 A compilation of essays and commentary delivered at the second annual Kent State University Symposium on Democracy, this work recognizes and considers the differences that arise when the competitive forces of commerce clash with the demand for the open availability of information in a democratic society. The conflicting roles of advocate-initiator and objective reporter for journalists who cover community politics; the role of the news media in forming public attitudes toward things political and their role in affecting voter nonparticipation; the role of financial considerations in the news media's attempt to provide citizens with needed news and perspective on political affairs; and particularly the role of the conglomeration of ownership of news media organizations are a few of the topics discussed in this volume. |
checkbook democracy: American Probate Paula A. Monopoli, 2003 An eye-opening account of the prevalence of fraud and abuse inherent in American probate law. |
checkbook democracy: A Versatile American Institution David C. Hammack, Helmut K. Anheier, 2013-02-27 America's grantmaking foundations have grown rapidly over the course of recent decades, even in the face of financial and economic crises. Foundations have a great deal of freedom, enjoy widespread legitimacy, and wield considerable influence. In this book, David Hammack and Helmut Anheier follow up their edited volume, American Foundations, with a comprehensive historical account of what American foundations have done with that independence and power. While philanthropic foundations play important roles in other parts of the world, the U.S. sector stands out as exceptional. Nowhere else are they so numerous, prominent, or autonomous. What have been the main contributions of philanthropic foundations to American society? And what might the future hold for them? A Versatile American Institution considers foundations in a new way. Previous accounts typically focused narrowly on their organization, donors, and leaders, and their intentions—but not on the outcome of philanthropy. Rather than looking at foundations in a vacuum, Hammack and Anheier consider their roles and contributions in the context of their times and their economic and political circumstances. |
checkbook democracy: Campaign Contributions and Legislative Voting Stacey B. Gordon, 2005-08-24 This book studies the current paradox within the voting literature on campaign contributions and legislative voting behavior. Specifically, while journalists and observers believe that the contributions significantly influence congressional votes, empirical evidence compiled by political scientists has generally failed to identify a systematic linkage between the two. At the same time, the amount of money contributed by interest groups is increasing and polls indicate that the public is becoming more cynical about the process. |
checkbook democracy: Arizona Politics and Government David R. Berman, |
checkbook democracy: Presidential Government Benjamin Ginsberg, 2016-05-28 Noted political scientist Benjamin Ginsberg has written an essential text for courses on the United States presidency. An invaluable resource, Ginsberg’s comprehensive analysis emphasizes the historical, constitutional, and legal dimensions of presidential power. He explores the history and essential aspects of the office, the president’s relationship to the rest of the executive branch and to a subordinated Congress, and the evolution of the American president from policy executor to policy maker. Compelling photo essays delve into topics of special interest, including First Spouses, Presidential Eligibility, and Congressional Investigations of the White House. |
checkbook democracy: Criminal Misconduct in Office Jeremy Horder, 2018-02-23 Should the criminal law be used to deter and punish corruption in politics: from employing family members at public expense to improper spending on elections, lobbying, and cronyism? How did so many MPs avoid facing charges after the 2009 government expenses scandal? In this book, Jeremy Horder tackles these questions and more. As well as offering the first treatment of the history, philosophy, and politics of the application of the offence of misconduct in office to Members of Parliament in England and Wales, Horder explains how political corruption might be dealt with in future, and how politicians could be held accountable for their actions so that they are deterred from betraying the public's trust. Use of the criminal law should not be the sole or even the main way to remedy all corruption in politics. Nevertheless, for too long the offence of misconduct in a public office has had an ambiguous status in the political realm. If we are to preserve the good health of government it must be seen as a constitutional fundamental. A charge of misconduct provides a way in which corrupt conduct on the part of legislators can be punished with an appropriate label, holding them to account for the misuse of power by reference to the standards of ordinary people. When other - civil law or regulatory - means prove insufficient, it should be possible for ordinary members of a jury, and not for Parliamentarians or other officials, to decide whether, for example, the expenditure of public money on legislators' private income and benefits amounts to a criminal abuse of the public's trust. This book offers an authoritative and accessible account of a 'bottom-up' (jury standards-led), as opposed to a 'top-down' (officials applying their own standards), approach to the role of the criminal law in constitutional contexts. |
checkbook democracy: Japan's Dysfunctional Democracy: The Liberal Democratic Party and Structural Corruption Roger W. Bowen, 2016-09-16 This is a short, readable, and incisive study of the corrosive effects of corruption in one of the world's major liberal democracies. It explores the disconnect between democratic rule and undemocratic practices in Japan since the Second World War, with special attention to the corrupt practices of various prime ministers and the resulting sense of political cynicism and powerlessness among the general public. |
checkbook democracy: Capitalism Bruce R. Scott, 2011-10-02 Two systems of governance, capitalism and democracy, prevail in the world today. Operating simultaneously in partially distinct domains, these systems rely on indirect governance through regulated competition to coordinate actors; inevitably, these systems influence and transform each other. This book rejects the simple equation of capitalism with markets in favor of a three-level system, a model which recognizes that markets are administered by regulators through institutions and governed by a political authority with the power to regulate behavior, punish transgressors, and redesign institutions. This system's emergence required the sovereign to relinquish some power in order to release the energies of economic actors. Rather than spreading through an unguided natural process like trade, capitalism emerged where competitive pressures forced political authorities to take risks in order to achieve increased revenues by permitting markets for land, labor, and capital. |
checkbook democracy: Fixing Elections Steven Hill, 2004-03-01 Fixing Elections shows our whole 18th-century Winner Take All political system, including the way we elect our legislatures. Steven Hill argues our geographic-based, Winner Take All political system is at the root of many of our worst political problems, including poor minority and majority representation, low voter turnout, expensive mudslinging campaigns, congressional gridlock, regional balkanization, and the growing divide between city-dwellers and middle-America. |
checkbook democracy: 24/7 Politics Kathryn Cramer Brownell, 2023-08-15 How cable television upended American political life in the pursuit of profits and influence As television began to overtake the political landscape in the 1960s, network broadcast companies, bolstered by powerful lobbying interests, dominated screens across the nation. Yet over the next three decades, the expansion of a different technology, cable, changed all of this. 24/7 Politics tells the story of how the cable industry worked with political leaders to create an entirely new approach to television, one that tethered politics to profits and divided and distracted Americans by feeding their appetite for entertainment—frequently at the expense of fostering responsible citizenship. In this timely and provocative book, Kathryn Cramer Brownell argues that cable television itself is not to blame for today’s rampant polarization and scandal politics—the intentional restructuring of television as a political institution is. She describes how cable innovations—from C-SPAN coverage of congressional debates in the 1980s to MTV’s foray into presidential politics in the 1990s—took on network broadcasting using market forces, giving rise to a more decentralized media world. Brownell shows how cable became an unstoppable medium for political communication that prioritized cult followings and loyalty to individual brands, fundamentally reshaped party politics, and, in the process, sowed the seeds of democratic upheaval. 24/7 Politics reveals how cable TV created new possibilities for antiestablishment voices and opened a pathway to political prominence for seemingly unlikely figures like Donald Trump by playing to narrow audiences and cultivating division instead of common ground. |
checkbook democracy: Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the People Majid Behrouzi, 2005-01-01 This book, along with its companion volume, Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen, relates the democratic potential of the latest electronic technologies to the idea of direct-participatory democracy. Taking a critical look at the past and present theories of democracy, this volume clarifies the original meaning of the idea of democracy and explains the distortions it has suffered throughout its long history. |
checkbook democracy: Blue Grit Laura Flanders, 2008-01-29 As the right-wing has known for decades: in tight elections, motivated grassroots groups with grit make the difference. Don’t sell them out, Democrats, for the centrist voter on the fence, says Flanders. There’s a tide of progressive activism rising that’s changing what’s possible in American politics. She’s traveled the country and gathered more than enough entertaining evidence to make her case. Laura Flanders, the New York Times best-selling author of Bushwomen, believes there are no such things as “red” and “blue” states. Even in the most surprising places, she’s finding progressive change. From Vermont to Salt Lake City to Las Vegas’s famous Strip, Flanders journeys through the heartland USA and discovers a simple truth: people don’t vote for the GOP because Republicans represent their interests; they vote Republican because Democrats barely field a team. Adamant, opinionated, funny, and always engaging, Flanders chronicles what she’s learned from scores of voters and activists—about how change is happening in Main St. USA, even if it rarely catches the attention of the mainstream media. Mormons defending women’s rights, casino owners teaming up with waitresses to raise the minimum wage; blue collar construction workers and lesbian mothers working together to make their workplaces safer and more secure for all. Flanders finds young, supposedly “alienated” Americans, who are driving scores of new voters to the polls. Fiery polemic, assured narrative, and acute political commentary, Blue Grit will be crucial reading for everyone interested in the future of the Democrats, and this country. |
checkbook democracy: Political Corruption Debra A. Miller, 2007-07-06 The legal definition of political corruption is an illegal act by a government officeholder who uses the power gained by the position for illegitimate private gain. Examples of political corruption include bribery, ethically questionable behavior, and conflicts of interest. This pertinent volume provides readers with an expansive survey on the topic of political corruption. Chapters discuss abuse of public office for private gain, the relationship between money and political corruption, and what efforts exist to curb political corruption. |
checkbook democracy: Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen Majid Behrouzi, 2006-01-01 This book, along with its companion volume, Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the People, relates the democratic potential of the latest electronic technologies to the idea of direct-participatory democracy. Having clarified the original meaning of the idea of democracy, this volume proceeds to develop a new theory of democracy, 'Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy.' |
checkbook democracy: The American Lie Benjamin Ginsberg, 2007 Going all the way back to the time of George Washington, much of what we see and hear in the political world consists of lies and deceptions. Despite assurances to the contrary, politics is not about truth, justice, and principle. It is about money, power, and status. As astute political commentator Ben Ginsberg convincingly demonstrates, politicians habitually lie, pretending to fight for principles, in order to conceal their true selfish motives. Citizens who need the frequent injunctions to participate in politics and abjure political cynicism are likely to be duped into contributing their tax dollars and even their lives for dubious purposes. Most individuals gain little from political participation. Participants are the foot soldiers of political warfare, but even if their side is victorious, they receive few of the spoils of war. Thus, in this new political season, Ginsberg encourages citizens to think outside the (ballot) box, finding new ways to act on behalf of their interests and the public good. But if they do vote, their motto should be when in doubt vote them out. The elections of 2008 are a good time to begin. |
checkbook democracy: Downsizing Democracy Matthew A. Crenson, Benjamin Ginsberg, 2020-03-03 Originally publushed in 2002. In Downsizing Democracy, Matthew A. Crenson and Benjamin Ginsberg describe how the once powerful idea of a collective citizenry has given way to a concept of personal, autonomous democracy. Today, political change is effected through litigation, lobbying, and term limits, rather than active participation in the political process, resulting in narrow special interest groups dominating state and federal decision-making. At a time when an American's investment in the democratic process has largely been reduced to an annual contribution to a political party or organization, Downsizing Democracy offers a critical reassessment of American democracy. |
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Compare Housecleaners in Washington, DC area - Checkbook
Compare Housecleaners in Washington, DC area - 266 Unbiased Reviews - Consumers' Checkbook
Guide to Health Plans For Federal Employees, 2025 FEHB Open
Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans helps active and retired federal employees find the best FEHB and FEDVIP plan for themselves and their family.
Contractors: Remodelers & General - Checkbook
Compare Remodelers & General Contractors in Washington, DC area - 92 Unbiased Reviews - Consumers' Checkbook
Doctors - Ratings and Reviews - Washington Consumers' Checkbook
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Compare Accountants in Washington, DC area - 214 Unbiased Reviews - Consumers' Checkbook
Washington Consumers' Checkbook - Unbiased Ratings and Advice
We aren't loyal to businesses, we're loyal to you. Easily find ratings, reviews, and advice on local service providers. Checkbook is nonprofit, independent, and provides unbiased information. We …
Checkbook - National - Unbiased Ratings and Advice
We aren't loyal to businesses, we're loyal to you. Easily find ratings, reviews, and advice on local service providers. Checkbook is nonprofit, independent, and provides unbiased information. We …
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Cell Phones: Protecting Yours Checkbook’s Top Shopping Tips Child Care: Tips for Saving Chimney Sweeps & Services Chiropractors Closet Organizers Clothing Rental Clothing Resale Options …
Guide to Health Plans For Federal Employees - Checkbook
CHECKBOOK's Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees gives you vital insurance information that you cannot get from any other source. It tells you how much money you can save by …
Help and Troubleshooting - National - Checkbook
I am a magazine subscriber but have no access to the website. In order to use Checkbook.org you must first register. Please go to www.checkbook.org/register.
Compare Housecleaners in Washington, DC area - Checkbook
Compare Housecleaners in Washington, DC area - 266 Unbiased Reviews - Consumers' Checkbook
Guide to Health Plans For Federal Employees, 2025 FEHB Open
Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans helps active and retired federal employees find the best FEHB and FEDVIP plan for themselves and their family.
Contractors: Remodelers & General - Checkbook
Compare Remodelers & General Contractors in Washington, DC area - 92 Unbiased Reviews - Consumers' Checkbook
Doctors - Ratings and Reviews - Washington Consumers' Checkbook
Compare 1844 Doctors in Washington, DC area - 432000 Unbiased Reviews - Consumer's Checkbook
Compare Accountants in Washington, DC area - Checkbook
Compare Accountants in Washington, DC area - 214 Unbiased Reviews - Consumers' Checkbook
Washington Consumers' Checkbook - Unbiased Ratings and Advice
We aren't loyal to businesses, we're loyal to you. Easily find ratings, reviews, and advice on local service providers. Checkbook is nonprofit, independent, and provides unbiased information. We …