William Domhoff's Who Rules America

William Domhoff’s investigation into America’s ruling class is an eye-opening and poignant reading experience, even for individuals enlightened on the intricacies of the US social class system. His book, Who Rules America, explains the fundamental failures in America’s governing bodies to provide adequate resources for class mobility and shared power amongst classes. He identifies history, corporate and social hierarchies, money-driven politics, a two-party system, and a policy-making process orchestrated by American elites as several causes leading to an ultimate effect of class-domination theory pervading American society. In articulating his thesis and supporting assertions, Domhoff appeals rhetorically toward an audience with prior knowledge

From his research and through my personal experiences, I agree with his overriding thesis that the wealthy dominate all facets of American culture. One of his primary arguments revolves around the lifestyle choices of the American elite. For example, social clubs, including country clubs, are one of the luxuries only offered to the American upper class. Personally speaking, my family never joined a country club due to the intimidating annual and initiation fees associated with such clubs, despite my love for golf and tennis. My family’s social class dictated our ability (or inability) to properly finance our greatest pleasures. Generally speaking, American elites have access to the finer elements of society. More importantly, social clubs reinforce class dynamics and limit class mobility. Because those belonging to social clubs and institutions are generally members of the upper class, networking, befriending, and communicating only occurs within class lines, making it impossible for less fortunate individuals to transcend class boundaries. This sort of class division in American culture is generational, explaining the dominance of white, affluent males in social clubs - time has favored these demographics and there do not exist many chances for the economic less fortunate to overcome historical

One important component in which the upper class rule America is the electoral process. Loose campaign finance regulation, including controversial Supreme Court decisions such as Citizens United v. US and Buckley v. Valeo is a primary cause of the wealthy ruling politics. These two decisions asserted that corporations are not limited in their spending on political candidates. Essentially, the US Supreme Court enabled corporate leaders to buy influence - SuperPAC heads and wealthy businessmen were welcomed to join forces and pour as much money as possible into candidates’ campaigns. The net effect: America’s wealthiest individuals could exert an unmatchable influence on candidates and the electorate while pressing an agenda favoring the upper class. Like Domhoff, I find this influence incredibly troubling, as a significant majority of American voices are being silenced. Anyone not amongst the American elites has a right to feel disinterested in the American political system, knowing they do not have the means to exert the same effect on American politics as someone with more money. Politics should be an open forum as opposed to the behind-closed-doors negotiating table Domhoff