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American Oligarchy: The Permanent Political Class
A permanent political class has emerged on a scale unprecedented in our nation’s history. Its self-dealing, nepotism, and corruption contribute to rising inequality. Its reach extends from the governing elite throughout nongovernmental institutions. Aside from constituting an oligarchy of prestige and power, it enables the creation of an aristocracy of massive inherited wealth that is accumulating immense political power.
In a muckraking tour de force reminiscent of Lincoln Steffens, Upton Sinclair, and C. Wright Mills, American Oligarchy demonstrates the way the corrupt culture of the permanent political class extends down to the state and local level. Ron Formisano breaks down the ways this class creates economic inequality and how its own endemic corruption infects our entire society. Formisano delves into the work of not just politicians but lobbyists, consultants, appointed bureaucrats, pollsters, celebrity journalists, behind-the-scenes billionaires, and others. Their shameless pursuit of wealth and self-aggrandizement, often at taxpayer expense, rewards channeling the flow of income and wealth to elites. That inequality in turn has choked off social mobility and made a joke of meritocracy. As Formisano shows, these forces respond to the oligarchy’s power and compete to bask in the presence of the .01 percent. They also exacerbate the dangerous instability of an American democracy divided between extreme wealth and extreme poverty.
In a muckraking tour de force reminiscent of Lincoln Steffens, Upton Sinclair, and C. Wright Mills, American Oligarchy demonstrates the way the corrupt culture of the permanent political class extends down to the state and local level. Ron Formisano breaks down the ways this class creates economic inequality and how its own endemic corruption infects our entire society. Formisano delves into the work of not just politicians but lobbyists, consultants, appointed bureaucrats, pollsters, celebrity journalists, behind-the-scenes billionaires, and others. Their shameless pursuit of wealth and self-aggrandizement, often at taxpayer expense, rewards channeling the flow of income and wealth to elites. That inequality in turn has choked off social mobility and made a joke of meritocracy. As Formisano shows, these forces respond to the oligarchy’s power and compete to bask in the presence of the .01 percent. They also exacerbate the dangerous instability of an American democracy divided between extreme wealth and extreme poverty.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 17, 2017
This cri de coeur about corruption has a lot of outrage, but it’s short on definitions and thus on solutions. At times, Formisano suggests that anyone with a state, local, or federal government job is part of the oligarchy, as well as doctors, people in positions of authority at nonprofits, think tanks, and businesses. There is a lot of corruption in the US; the chapter about the abuses in Kentucky, where poverty, pollution, child mortality, and other indicators of suffering are extremely high, should make anyone angry. I understand getting mad at nonprofit CEOs who are compensated like for-profit CEOs—but the problem is not the parity (I don’t like the argument that “you chose a helping profession, you should accept less pay because of how good it feels to do good”; not only is it a trope usually used to justify paying female-dominated professions less, it positions doing good as something you ought to have to pay for, when really you ought to have to pay for acting solely in your own self-interest) but the fact that anybody can get paid as much as for-profit CEOs do, with so little tax. It is appalling that CEOs of nonprofit hospitals are paid hundreds of millions while the hospitals garnish the wages of poor patients who can’t pay—but that is true of for-profit hospitals too.
Formisano also points out that our federal legislators get perks that let them live like millionaires even when (as is increasingly unlikely) they aren’t; during the 2013 government shutdown, Congresspeople stopped National Airport from closing because it served them and also deemed their own gyms and pools “essential” enough to stay open, though the workers there still didn’t make very much. These privileges, he suggests, corrupt even the people who moved up in class, so that a visionary leader at Brown University speaks eloquently about admitting more students from poor backgrounds but also doesn’t want to interfere with alumni preferences because she has a granddaughter. The elites funnel money to themselves and their families by self-dealing, whether in government (remember Kim Davis?), nonprofits, or business. Disgrace, if exposure occurs, is ameliorated by a soft landing—a pension, positions on other boards, and soft words from one’s co-elites. Even nonprofits are in on the game, and they increasingly replace grassroots activism with palatable-to-elites causes that are organized from the top.
Formisano quotes Robert Borosage’s criticism of liberal focus on “opportunity” instead of equity or punishment for elite cheaters as “passive voice populism,” to good effect. Defunding tax collection is just another mechanism of harm—creating more loopholes for cheaters, who are subsidized by ordinary wage workers whose taxes are collected automatically. Though it’s relatively easy to cherry-pick from history, this John Adams quote seemed apposite: “civil, military, political and hierarchical Despotism, have all grown out of the natural Aristocracy of ‘Virtue and Talents.’ We, to be sure, are far remote from this. Many hundred years must roll away before We shall be corrupted.”
Formisano also points out that our federal legislators get perks that let them live like millionaires even when (as is increasingly unlikely) they aren’t; during the 2013 government shutdown, Congresspeople stopped National Airport from closing because it served them and also deemed their own gyms and pools “essential” enough to stay open, though the workers there still didn’t make very much. These privileges, he suggests, corrupt even the people who moved up in class, so that a visionary leader at Brown University speaks eloquently about admitting more students from poor backgrounds but also doesn’t want to interfere with alumni preferences because she has a granddaughter. The elites funnel money to themselves and their families by self-dealing, whether in government (remember Kim Davis?), nonprofits, or business. Disgrace, if exposure occurs, is ameliorated by a soft landing—a pension, positions on other boards, and soft words from one’s co-elites. Even nonprofits are in on the game, and they increasingly replace grassroots activism with palatable-to-elites causes that are organized from the top.
Formisano quotes Robert Borosage’s criticism of liberal focus on “opportunity” instead of equity or punishment for elite cheaters as “passive voice populism,” to good effect. Defunding tax collection is just another mechanism of harm—creating more loopholes for cheaters, who are subsidized by ordinary wage workers whose taxes are collected automatically. Though it’s relatively easy to cherry-pick from history, this John Adams quote seemed apposite: “civil, military, political and hierarchical Despotism, have all grown out of the natural Aristocracy of ‘Virtue and Talents.’ We, to be sure, are far remote from this. Many hundred years must roll away before We shall be corrupted.”
September 23, 2018
The opening statement is amazing.
> Although the political class embraces networks, families, and individuals working and living across the country, its hub is Washington, D.C.
It does not make any direct sense. But Formisano badly wanted to say that he is down with the concept of *networks* and also with the idea that political power is concentrated in the Nation's Capital. While the first statement is somewhat relevant in the sense that "I wear Nike shoes to show that I am an active person", the second is as useful as observing that "when it snows it's cold outside".
Chapter 2 opens with a better phased statement, although equally stupid:
> In early 2014, according to a report from the Center for Responsive Politics, Congress reached a milestone: over half of its members—at least 268 of the 534—qualified as millionaires;
Now comparing the price of butter or the price of a small family home it's quite easy to notice that millionaire does not mean much. Yet the emotion is there. And that is what Formisano is seeking. More so, I doubt Formisano has the knowlege what millionaire means. Sure, most of the population thinks of money piled in bank accounts. Only that these economic statements take a lot more into account. Like the sales value of an equivalent home sold nearby. Or the quoted value of the stock owned. Any attempt to liquefy the said assets will bring a much lower quantity of money. From which the sale commission has to be deducted. After which the many taxes and impositions have to be paid. Making at least some of the said Congress persons regular wage earners.
> Although the political class embraces networks, families, and individuals working and living across the country, its hub is Washington, D.C.
It does not make any direct sense. But Formisano badly wanted to say that he is down with the concept of *networks* and also with the idea that political power is concentrated in the Nation's Capital. While the first statement is somewhat relevant in the sense that "I wear Nike shoes to show that I am an active person", the second is as useful as observing that "when it snows it's cold outside".
Chapter 2 opens with a better phased statement, although equally stupid:
> In early 2014, according to a report from the Center for Responsive Politics, Congress reached a milestone: over half of its members—at least 268 of the 534—qualified as millionaires;
Now comparing the price of butter or the price of a small family home it's quite easy to notice that millionaire does not mean much. Yet the emotion is there. And that is what Formisano is seeking. More so, I doubt Formisano has the knowlege what millionaire means. Sure, most of the population thinks of money piled in bank accounts. Only that these economic statements take a lot more into account. Like the sales value of an equivalent home sold nearby. Or the quoted value of the stock owned. Any attempt to liquefy the said assets will bring a much lower quantity of money. From which the sale commission has to be deducted. After which the many taxes and impositions have to be paid. Making at least some of the said Congress persons regular wage earners.
July 10, 2019
Yawwwn
The scholarship here wasn't impressive at all. I am severely disappointed.
The idea of seeing the power structures in America through the lens of an oligarchy is fascinating and thought provoking. Truly. There is some serious depth to it. It may very well be that to some capacity a bunch of powerful people pull the strings and more or less lead the society. There is a deeply fascinating sociological, economic and political analysis to be had, and sadly this book doesnt quite make the cut in my eyes.
Now of course you may say. Arent you being a bit hard on the book? How is the scholarship poor?
A bit yes. only because of the claim of title. I was looking for an explanation of American culture, and what I received was a recap of the big news stories in the last few years spoken through the lens of seeing the country as an oligarchy.
And surely journalism in its typical manner is more gossip than scholarship. At that I will leave it here. This goes up there in the modern books like: Fire and fury(for the left), Fear (the trump book).
Recommended for :
People who haven't been paying attention to American politics, and want something of a recap through the vague lens of oligarchy..
deterred for :
Scholars. Those looking for substance and a deeper understanding of American culture
The scholarship here wasn't impressive at all. I am severely disappointed.
The idea of seeing the power structures in America through the lens of an oligarchy is fascinating and thought provoking. Truly. There is some serious depth to it. It may very well be that to some capacity a bunch of powerful people pull the strings and more or less lead the society. There is a deeply fascinating sociological, economic and political analysis to be had, and sadly this book doesnt quite make the cut in my eyes.
Now of course you may say. Arent you being a bit hard on the book? How is the scholarship poor?
A bit yes. only because of the claim of title. I was looking for an explanation of American culture, and what I received was a recap of the big news stories in the last few years spoken through the lens of seeing the country as an oligarchy.
And surely journalism in its typical manner is more gossip than scholarship. At that I will leave it here. This goes up there in the modern books like: Fire and fury(for the left), Fear (the trump book).
Recommended for :
People who haven't been paying attention to American politics, and want something of a recap through the vague lens of oligarchy..
deterred for :
Scholars. Those looking for substance and a deeper understanding of American culture
September 4, 2017
This is an interesting book about how those with power and money have in essence transformed the government into an oligarchy designed to self-perpetuate the elites. The author discusses self-dealing, and corruption, among politicians and how money and the quest to raise more money to help ensure re-election influences the decisions made and legislation passed by politicians. He discusses the revolving door between Congress and K Street (the lobbyists) and how retired (or defeated) members of Congress and Congressional staff get around laws and rules designed to prevent members of Congress immediately becoming lobbyists after leaving Congress.
The author covers a broad range of topics, which are all interconnected. He discusses the exorbitant salaries received by leaders and other staff of non-profits, in particular charities, money that should be spent advancing the mission of the non-profit. He explains how the boards of corporations and non-profits either openly enable or ignore inappropriate behavior by leadership because they financially benefit. "The political class embraces many other subgroups such as highly compensated university presidents and academic administrators, and the executives of well-funded nonprofit institutions (e.g., hospitals, museums, other cultural institutions." Some of the information will be familiar to anyone who follows politics and some of the general behavior will not be particularly surprising, but the extent of the self-dealing and inappropriate behavior may be surprising. In reading the e-book, I was often taking screenshots of pages because the information was so interesting or outrageous that I wanted to have it to refer to later, including when preparing this review. One of the strengths of the book is the numerous specific examples; in fact, about a quarter of the book consists of the citations that support his numerous examples. For example, in 2011, the head of the American Cancer Society was paid $2.1 million and the head of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America was paid $1.8 million. Think about how much good that money could have done if used to support the non-profits, not enrich the leadership.
There are times were the author's liberal bias is quite evident, but overall he does a good job of highlighting hypocrisy, self-dealing, and inappropriate behavior by both liberals/Democrats and conservatives/Republicans, reserving some of his harshest criticism at times for specific individuals who identify as liberal/Democrat (for example, Tom Daschle and his post-Congress lobbying). The author also notes that in the Obama Administration, the Attorney General (Holder) and deputy attorney general (Breuer) were "corporate lawyers whose expertise was defending the misconduct of financial firms and corporations." Surprise, surprise, the DOJ under Holder and Breuer refused to prosecute individuals from the financial firms that helped cause the "Great Recession."
The only real weakness in the book is his discussion of the Supreme Court, especially as he claims that "The current Supreme Court is the first in U.S. history on which sits not one person who had practical political experience." Justice Thomas was an assistant attorney general in Missouri, legislative assistant to Senator Danforth, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and the Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for eight years before being appointed to the federal courts.
Overall, this book is well worth reading.
I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
The author covers a broad range of topics, which are all interconnected. He discusses the exorbitant salaries received by leaders and other staff of non-profits, in particular charities, money that should be spent advancing the mission of the non-profit. He explains how the boards of corporations and non-profits either openly enable or ignore inappropriate behavior by leadership because they financially benefit. "The political class embraces many other subgroups such as highly compensated university presidents and academic administrators, and the executives of well-funded nonprofit institutions (e.g., hospitals, museums, other cultural institutions." Some of the information will be familiar to anyone who follows politics and some of the general behavior will not be particularly surprising, but the extent of the self-dealing and inappropriate behavior may be surprising. In reading the e-book, I was often taking screenshots of pages because the information was so interesting or outrageous that I wanted to have it to refer to later, including when preparing this review. One of the strengths of the book is the numerous specific examples; in fact, about a quarter of the book consists of the citations that support his numerous examples. For example, in 2011, the head of the American Cancer Society was paid $2.1 million and the head of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America was paid $1.8 million. Think about how much good that money could have done if used to support the non-profits, not enrich the leadership.
There are times were the author's liberal bias is quite evident, but overall he does a good job of highlighting hypocrisy, self-dealing, and inappropriate behavior by both liberals/Democrats and conservatives/Republicans, reserving some of his harshest criticism at times for specific individuals who identify as liberal/Democrat (for example, Tom Daschle and his post-Congress lobbying). The author also notes that in the Obama Administration, the Attorney General (Holder) and deputy attorney general (Breuer) were "corporate lawyers whose expertise was defending the misconduct of financial firms and corporations." Surprise, surprise, the DOJ under Holder and Breuer refused to prosecute individuals from the financial firms that helped cause the "Great Recession."
The only real weakness in the book is his discussion of the Supreme Court, especially as he claims that "The current Supreme Court is the first in U.S. history on which sits not one person who had practical political experience." Justice Thomas was an assistant attorney general in Missouri, legislative assistant to Senator Danforth, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and the Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for eight years before being appointed to the federal courts.
Overall, this book is well worth reading.
I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
December 30, 2017
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
American Oligarchy is a well researched indictment of the "permanent political class" as the author describes it. This permanent political class is entrenched in Congress but also in the heads of academia, local government agencies along with for-profit and non-profit organizations.
I think that most of us that pay any attention to the news know about some of the information laid out in the book. It is behind the statistic that Congress only has an approval rating of 12%. The author wants us to look past the generalities and get a better understanding of how the wealthy and powerful have set everything up to keep themselves in power along with the rampant nepotism.
This was a frustrating book to read because it gets your blood boiling, no matter where you stand politically--the point is that everybody is doing it and the author would like to get the word out about exactly what they are doing. You can practically read the author's frustration dripping off the page although I did appreciate the dry sense of humor sprinkled in throughout the book. I was left with some disappointment that there wasn't a more detailed "what can we do about this" section but there is a short afterword that gives some guidance. I think the author's goal was to shine a spotlight on the activities happening right under our nose. If that was truly the goal, Mr. Formisano was successful. Hopefully, this book will get a large audience.
American Oligarchy is a well researched indictment of the "permanent political class" as the author describes it. This permanent political class is entrenched in Congress but also in the heads of academia, local government agencies along with for-profit and non-profit organizations.
I think that most of us that pay any attention to the news know about some of the information laid out in the book. It is behind the statistic that Congress only has an approval rating of 12%. The author wants us to look past the generalities and get a better understanding of how the wealthy and powerful have set everything up to keep themselves in power along with the rampant nepotism.
This was a frustrating book to read because it gets your blood boiling, no matter where you stand politically--the point is that everybody is doing it and the author would like to get the word out about exactly what they are doing. You can practically read the author's frustration dripping off the page although I did appreciate the dry sense of humor sprinkled in throughout the book. I was left with some disappointment that there wasn't a more detailed "what can we do about this" section but there is a short afterword that gives some guidance. I think the author's goal was to shine a spotlight on the activities happening right under our nose. If that was truly the goal, Mr. Formisano was successful. Hopefully, this book will get a large audience.
September 8, 2017
Ron Formisano in his book "American Oligarchy" gives both a political primer on how politicians make money and a very cogent argument as to why Populists of all varieties not just Trump are now finding a receptive audience with voters. Looking in depth at the current practices of US politicians this well researched book details minutely the way the system works and gives example after example of sleaze and mismanagement.
Although the book does mention alternatives and in someway in the conclusion and afterword grounds his research in the larger historical and global context, it is however a narrow view of what the state of political corruption is now. To be precise it's a highly focused beam of light on what the shenanigans and double dealings are which make up the political class that Americans everywhere are so disgusted with. A more relevant book for the problems of the day I can't think of, although one does wish perhaps for a more broad coherent strategy for how American can get out of this mess.
Although the book does mention alternatives and in someway in the conclusion and afterword grounds his research in the larger historical and global context, it is however a narrow view of what the state of political corruption is now. To be precise it's a highly focused beam of light on what the shenanigans and double dealings are which make up the political class that Americans everywhere are so disgusted with. A more relevant book for the problems of the day I can't think of, although one does wish perhaps for a more broad coherent strategy for how American can get out of this mess.
October 29, 2017
This is an interesting look at American politics and how we got to the point where money is the main motivation for the majority of political decisions. It is a very thorough outline of the system from fundraising to lobbying to our relationship with large American corporations and foreign entities. There are a lot of facts and figures, and many that you will want to continue to research, so read with a pen and notebook. At the very least, it will encourage you to take a closer look at your representatives, their records, and motivation for the roles they play in our government.
*I received an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*I received an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
November 14, 2017
This book is a must read for all who have a conscience. Never have I been more disgusted and angry than when I examined the data presented in this book. If there is to be a progressive revolution in this country, it will come with good reason. Fat cats and self entitled politicians and corporate prostitutes are among us; we all knew that. Just how bad it really is may be a surprise to a reader. I refer to a famous quote during the 1950's McCarthy inquisition, "Sir, do you have no dignity?" Sadly, many of our so called leaders have none.
January 24, 2021
American Oligarchy is a sobering piece of journalism. I think the subject deserves a little more than that, and to be sure Formisano does deliver, but only at the end in his concluding chapter. The book's seven earlier chapters document in great detail what you could call the morbid symptoms of US oligarchy, but only briefly touching on the disease itself (so to speak) at the end left me wanting.
This is a topic is not discussed enough in my opinion, there is a lot of ground to cover. But I'm afraid Formisano only scratches the surface here.
This is a topic is not discussed enough in my opinion, there is a lot of ground to cover. But I'm afraid Formisano only scratches the surface here.
April 7, 2020
The writer takes a look at the political class and how they are currently entrenched in American politics. He looks at both Democrats and Republicans and how individuals from both parties make up the political class that comes from a background of wealth and privilege. He even takes a look at nonprofits and how those who head nonprofits can live as a member of the top 1 percent. This book takes a good hard look at the political system in America today.
August 23, 2017
This is an interesting look at the permanent political class that has developed in Washington DC right under our nose. It starts with a little doing something to help and then could the politician do something small in return. It is too easy and then they are hooked. Probably only the tip of the iceberg. Very interesting though.
August 14, 2018
Nothing but the truth. Probably preaching to the choir.
Recommended for poli-sci geeks, and socialists.
Recommended for poli-sci geeks, and socialists.
January 10, 2018
A brilliantly written, scathing insight into America's ruling class - politicians. The book Americans need right now, one that could open the eyes to many who blindly believe that politicians even at the lowest levels have anyone's interests but their own at heart. Corruption permeates the system, and only a total overhaul can fix it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews