Why Hasn’t Democracy Slowed Rising Inequality? Essay Example

My name is Sugel and I live in the city of New York. I am a political science student studying in Cuny University. I am writing this letter to highlight the issues of strengthening the democracy in the state. I want to emphasize that on making government democratic, the people will be less frightened. I wish to tell that Mr. President, kindly take strong actions in diminishing the powers which are being vested on particular interests and to increase the state’s democracy (Hobson, Christopher & Milja, 2012). Despite of that, please consider in applying the betterment of economic quality for your citizens, using of voting system and public financing which makes it more representative. I believe that it is very important to know that the American Government is equipped in the high power level on moneyed interests in the political system (Ansell, Ben & David, 2014). The threat imposed to the democracy can be seen easily by the eyes of many people (Bonica et al., 2013). Most important issue in my opinion is that democracy should serve to check or to observe uncountable power by few at the expense of many. Democracy is basically seen  as form of governance for the people and by the people (May & Gary, 2013). I have seen many efforts have been initiated to address these concerns of inequality in power but the solutions for these divergent courses of actions are kept in trial. I can suggest solution for three important issues which includes creation of institutional barriers, economic equality and the transformation in voting process (Hobson, Christopher & Milja, 2012). These three are very important issues which leads to the success in the democracy of our country (Bonica et al., 2013).

The first solution I suggest is to reduce the gap among people as there is inequality in economy (May & Gary, 2013). It has been observed that to make the country more democratic, it is important to deal with the problems addressing inequalities. I can see that there is economic inequality with respect to income and wealth is the main problem in America’s democracy. By reducing this inequality will be the great step towards broad dispersion of power (Ansell, Ben & David, 2014). I can recommend that with the help of policies in state level as well as at the federal, the economy can be fairly divided. There is also one more solution I can indicate that Economic inequality can be removed if we increase the minimum wages which will benefit the lowest stages people (Bonica et al., 2013). In recent decades minimum wages has fallen continuously which results in enhancement of economic inequality (Ansell, Ben & David, 2014). If we implement these policies on wages can result positive in improving the country’s democracy. I also have discovered that companies requiring law and regulations to pay living wages to poor class, also if we consider that contracts and subsidies from government can play meaningful role by upgrading living standards for the poor (Ansell, Ben & David, 2014). One of the effective causes I can convey in reducing the poverty is to subsidize the wages of families with low income through the process of Earned Income Tax Credits (Bonica et al., 2013).

The second issue I have noted that with the efforts of creating institutional barriers which can delay the conversion of private powers conversion to perform political gains. As I have seen that one of the most crucial factors in setting democracy down is the inequalities in income (Bonica et al., 2013). I can suggest the solution for this issue which can be removed by hindering the interest from systems of dominating political by creating institutional barriers in between public and private systems (May & Gary, 2013). I have discovered that some organizations have supported the institutional barrier which anticipates in promoting the fair level ground for the enhancement in democracy in United States. Also it has been observed that  there are some groups like labor unions, united for a fair economy and Jobs with justice have the responsibilities to put efforts in increasing political and also economic clout for the whole workforce towards creating fair distribution as well as sharing the equal number of fruits which is arising from growth of economy in the country (Smith & Tony, 2012). These group forces the government to listen the voice of the citizen for the lowest people in the society. The solution of institutional barriers play vital role in diminishing the unfair power (Hobson, Christopher & Milja, 2012).

The third solution I suggest is transformation in process of voting. As we all know that people in the society who are well sound in financial aspect play dominant role in deciding winners in general elections. But in many occasions, private money is used for financing the elections which therefore results in winning advantage to the wealthy groups (Bonica et al., 2013). The applicable solution in my point of view for this problem is to restrict the private money usage in election campaigns. If we reduce the private money dependence, public financing policies should be implemented in order to have “clean elections” (Ansell, Ben & David, 2014). The election campaigns which are funded by public is also a suitable solution in order to reduce the benefits related with private money, and then the elected individuals can easily answer the need of voter (Bonica et al., 2013). As I have observed the calculations for this solution is a cost effective system as the predicted contribution of each citizen is around 10$ which is a feasible price for saving democracy in the country’s system of election (Smith & Tony, 2012).

If we implement these three factors, economy would be docile to democracy, concerning will of the citizens. The struggle for democracy is basically fixed in the people’s life condition because democracy always works best with political equality. If we consider the benefits and hopes of reenergizing of democracy in the society then every one of us have to make efforts and struggle. If these three solutions for democracy will be successful,  then there will be significant pressure for reducing the economic insecurity and inequality.

Work cited

Ansell, Ben W., and David J. Samuels. Inequality and Democratization. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Bonica, Adam, et al. “Why Hasn’t Democracy Slowed Rising Inequality?.” The Journal of Economic Perspectives 27.3 (2013): 103-123.

Hobson, Christopher, and Milja Kurki, eds. The conceptual politics of democracy promotion. Vol. 20. Routledge, 2012.

May, Gary. Bending toward justice: the Voting Rights Act and the transformation of American democracy. Basic Books, 2013.

Smith, Tony. America’s mission: the United States and the worldwide struggle for democracy. Princeton University Press, 2012.