Opinion Paper

Power defines relationships among individuals; it is a fundamental concept in social sciences, despite being a contested one. Wealth, power and dominance are controlled by big corporations, banks, and businesses. We have found that corporate businesses are the one that shape our country.

The elites are groups or members who exercise much power and influence in America. They consist of high level executives, corporate based owners, and managers. They have the money and influence to position themselves in key government decision making locations. They are directly involved in policy planning, political campaigns and elections.

Like me, many citizens believe in the American political philosophy. It is important that every American get out and support their party. This is achieved by volunteering, to assist the needs of your community and neighbors by attending town hall meetings and union rallies. With the help of technology and social media sites, connecting with state and local officials has become simpler and it gives us the chance to voice our opinions. Americans feel that voting has become insignificant when politicians can be bought and put into office. Voting can be seen as irrational, one person's vote may not make a difference in a national election. I believe it is my civic duty to get out and vote for a candidate who I believe will do a good job, in hopes that my vote will affect the outcome. We could do without the reliable conservative or liberal in the office, what voters want is President who will stop taking money from interest groups, make laws that benefit the hard working average American, and implement a bill that will prevent corporate domination.

Beyond personal experiences evidence of elite dominance can be seen in an article where over 100 education leaders, professors, former members of congress and public policy leaders opposed Washington's overreach into the education taught in local schools. They believed that both present and future leaders, Republican and Democratic will fall subject to political pressures by allowing special interests groups to distort the policies in place by the Department of Education. In 2009 the National Governor's Association and other Chief state school officers developed sets of math and English standards. In July of 2009, the Obama Administration release a program that awarded states $4.35 billion initiatives to those states that created reforms consistent with that of the Department of Educations'. Shortly thereafter, the in a speech to the National Governor's Association, the President encouraged all states to transition to college and career-ready standards in order to receive Title 1 funds. Later that month the Obama Administration released authorization for the "No Child Left Behind" blueprint (Burke, 2011).

The elites continue to manipulate our economy into what they believe to be in our best interest, which has been on going. I do not believe that anyone will be able to fix our current system, nor are they are willing to try. In the future the only solution to our problem I can see is