Amazon.com: Power to the People: Signed Edition: Books: Laura IngrahamWhat does this term power to the people mean? It is used by both sides, but does it mean the same things to both sides, and if so why can't there be more agreement.
I think for the left it means that people have the right to regulate businesses interests. The left believes that the threat to liberty comes from corporations that use and abuse power. That is why they are so focused and concerned about money flowing into politics. They want the government to limit the ability of media companies to how large of a portion of a market they can own because they fear that the media corporations will use control of this resource for its own ends and not that of the people.
On the right it means that people have the right to buy products from the best seller, for the best price. It means that people have the right to go into and conduct business without the government interfering with regulations. It means that people have the right to own what they work for without the government taxing it away to give it to someone who doesn't work. The right believes the threat to liberties comes not from business but from government. They don't fear the power of business to buy and sell, because they don't believe that this is a controlling function. They believe that peoples rights are violated when the government takes money from tax payers and gives it to either their supporters or big government agencies.
The truth I believe is that business do use their market leverage to its own advantage, and sometimes that means to the disadvantage of the people. There is a check for this that isn't used as strongly as it could be. Also government abuses the power that is given to it, to seek advantages from some groups at the cost of others. There is a check for this to, which is also not used as strongly as it could be.
People have the power, you don't have to give them the power. The check for corporations is that consumers choose not to purchase products from companies that they don't like. Either the company will be forced to change its ways, or it will sink. The check on government is that voters have the ability to vote politicians that are not executing their will out of office. Leaders who do not listen to the voice of the people are soon replaced. The problem isn't power to the people, the people are power, they are like batteries. However just like batteries they are only powerful when
plugged in, too many Americans are blind to the choices that they make as consumers and make no choice as voters.
