Why Americans Still Don't Vote: And Why Politicians Want It That Way

by Frances Fox Piven

Book Overview

Americans take for granted that ours is the very model of a democracy. At the core of this belief is the assumption that the right to vote is firmly established. But in fact, the United States is the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807004499
• ISBN13: 9780807004494
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

interesting discussion of decreasing voter participation

Great book revolving around the Moter Voter legislation passed in the 1990's. Piven and Cloward discuss the declining voter participation in the American democracy, attributing that decline to the parties demobilization of the American electorate and inability to remobilize. The authors argue that the declining voter participation is related to the lack of adequate and effective legislation, declining union membership, declining worker benefits and bargaining ability with free trade, and the exploitation of one class against another. The authors assert that the Democratic and Republican parties have no intention in actually remobilizing the electorate as new voters will change the current political game and add uncertainty to the incumbents reelections.

Eye-Opening

Piven and Cloward offer an intelligent, yet readable discussion on the downsizing of the American electorate. They claim that having low voter participation helps the controlling factions of the political parties remain unthreatened. They include a history of voter participation and representation in all levels of American politics and the factors that still leave some groups underrepresented today. A very insightful and enjoyable read.