Re: Mythbusting the Obama Magic

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Newmedia () aol com
> Date: January 5, 2010 11:38:11 AM EST
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: [IP] Re: Mythbusting the Obama Magic

> Dave:
>
> The sociology of power is a pretty well developed field and list- 
> members would do themselves a favor to investigate what it has come  
> up with.
>
> William Domhoff's "Who Rules America" is in its 6th edition and  
> would be a good place to start, unless you are feeling nostalgic and  
> simply want to pull C. Wright Mills' "Power Elite" off your shelf.
>
> Domhoff bases his analysis on the IEMP model from UCLA's Michael  
> Mann.  His two volumes "The Sources of Social Power" are very  
> readable and elaborate the overall approach.
>
> Power in society is the result of four overlapping networks, the  
> Ideological, the Economic, the Military and the Political.  These  
> networks vary tremendously over time and place but are all deeply  
> involved with our current situation in the US.
>
> The notion that electing a US President on the perennial Throw-The- 
> Bums-Out ticket (i.e. why we have a two-party system) would be able  
> to materially impact these power networks is indeed "magical"  
> thinking.
>
> Happy New Year,
>
> Mark Stahlman
> New York City



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