Who'd a Thunk? (Shirley, Not Me!)

“The general public has little or no independent influence on policy making"

That's what a long term study shows after examining over 1,700 policies made under the misconception that majority opinion vis-a-vis voting, petitioning and mass special interest groups directed the formation of these policies.  I never, never, (for real) would have guessed!  I thought everyone that I elected by vote, hung on knowing my opinion before deciding the good for the country...including me.

Rather than me reiterating what the study indicates or the rather eloquent article in Yahoo Finance's "The Exchange" by Rick Newman**, I've provided links for you.  For those of you who are challenged by reading more than 500 words, click on the underlined words in the previous sentence.   For those of you who like me want to see the original source without the synthesis of a "reporter" click on the paper title here: Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens

** Shirley, getting financial news from Yahoo is like checking a Milwaukee paper for Chicago weather, but Rick only made one lacuna:  He indicated that the Affordable Healthcare Act was NOT friendly to big business insurance.  Just who does he think is guarding the competitive insurance hen house?   But, that is post for another time.