Who Has the Power?

Although the popular belief is that the power is in the hands of the people, that may be true but it’s certainly not the common people who wields power. Even though Democracy is about the rule of the majority and gives the people more rights and freedoms, in today’s society, it’s not the people who exercise power. Being able to vote is not exercising power but a right that Democracy gives to people. Although people influence some of the decisions that the government makes, I think that ultimately it’s the government that holds and wields power. Most closely, I agree with Joseph Schumpeter who said that democracy is the rule of the politician, not the people. The politicians not necessary represent the common people but rather the power elite. The power elite which consist of wealthy families and those who have attended prestigious universities heavily influence and run the government. The government is what holds the power and makes decisions accordingly. In today’s society, it’s the power elite who occupies the highest level of power and have the ability to make key decisions which influence domestic and foreign policies. Furthermore, business leaders who run large corporations and families of great wealth form a capitalist class that greatly influences government officials and experts through lobbying, campaign contributions, and the appointment of top corporate leader to important government positions also influence the government’s decisions. Thus, the elite power which essentially makes up the government wields the most power because they have the most wealth and power.