> We are the government, and if you choose not to help make it what you want, it gets made for you by people who don't appreciate your point of view.

http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FPPS%2FPPS...

> Our analyses suggest that majorities of the American public actually have little influence over the policies our government adopts. Americans do enjoy many features central to democratic governance, such as regular elections, freedom of speech and association, and a widespread (if still contested) franchise. But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America’s claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened.