Wealthy More Likely To Contact Congress, Study Says

People with a median wealth of at least $7.5 million are far more likely to have contacted their member of Congress than the average person, a new study indicates.

The study, titled "Wealthy Americans, Philanthropy and the Common Good," by Northwestern University's Benjamin I. Page, Fay Lomax Cook, and Rachel Moskowitz, asked 83 people, mostly from the Chicago area and with a mean net worth of $14 million, about their contact with members of Congress and other government officials.

About half of the respondents had contacted their member of Congress or some other government official in the previous six months. Some respondents also listed high-level contacts, such as former White House chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel, adviser David Axelrod, as well as the president himself.

Additionally, 40 percent of those surveyed had contacted a member of Congress from another district or state.

The study indicated that wealthy Americans are far more likely to be active in politics than less-affluent citizens. Nearly all of the respondents voted in the 2008 election, compared to just 64 percent of all registered voters in the electorate as a whole.

The study also found that 21 percent of respondents had "bundled" contributions -- solicited money from networks of friends and co-workers -- to a party, candidate, or political cause.

Yet the study claims the rich don't always use their money and above-average contact with government officials in their own self-interest.

"For those who are worried that wealthy Americans may use their political influence to pursue narrow self-interests in conflict with the interests of their fellow citizens, we can offer at least some reassurance," the authors write. "Our wealthy respondents express a great deal of concern about the common good. They consider many potential problems facing the country very important."

Comments

[llwlknsn]

10:30 PM on 11/08/2011

Garbage. Anyone who is out of a job has contacted their Elected Representatives. I have complained about the impact FTAs have had on my ability to secure a permanent job only to have my elected representatives shrug and tell me that they will continue to sign any and all FTAs coming there way. They don't care that my life has been destroyed by these investor agreements and they do not care that they have signed away US Sovereign Immunities and have given global investors superior rights over US citizens and US investors. THIS is how a Plutarchy operates. It is time to fire the Political class. They have forgotten who they are supposed to be serving. By the way, my elected Representatives who are actively undermining US Sovereignty via FTA Chapter 11, are Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison and Rep. Larma Smith. I have no trouble naming them since they do not represent me and I will be working just as actively to make sure they are unemployed at the very next opportunity. I suggest you all do the same for your politicians. They no longer work for you, get rid of them. Use the vote before they sign that away as well.