The Cash Ceiling: Why Only the Rich Run for Office--and What We Can Do about It

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Why working-class Americans almost never become politicians, what that means for democracy, and what reformers can do about it Why are Americans governed by the rich Millionaires make up only three percent of the public but control all three branches of the federal government. How did this happen What stops lower-income and working-class Ameri

Reviews

"[A] detailed but very accessible study. . . . Carnes deserves credit for focusing attention on an under-the-radar issue." * Publishers Weekly *
"The Cash Ceiling is convincing thanks to its well-written arguments, easy-to-understand graphs and data, and moving anecdotes. . . . The tone is always passionate and persuasive. . . . The text expertly analyzes every aspect of the issue at hand, asking why working-class Americans do not run for office in the first place, why they do not get recruited, and so on."---Mya Alexice, Foreword Reviews
"This is a great book for political science students (graduate and undergraduate) who are just learning about the system, rather than attempting to engage with it." * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *

Author Bio

Nicholas Carnes is the Creed C. Black Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. He is the author of White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making. He lives in Durham, North Carolina.