The equal voice in the US political system

In: Osterreichische Zeitschrift fur Politikwissenschaft, Heft 3, S. 1

Abstract

Money is distributed very unequally in the US and this unequal distribution gives wealthy citizens through high campaign donations more influence on politics than other citizens. Robert Dahl's egalitarian conception of democracy considers this diminishing political equality as a problem for the US democracy. Two possibilities would restrict the growing influence of money on US politics: strict limitations of campaign donations or a more equal distribution of wealth and opportunities. Both possibilities are difficult to implement due to legal and political constraints. A third, rarely discussed, possibility would be to strengthen the equal voice of the citizens in the US political system. The article will discuss some propositions in this area. Adapted from the source document.