Some Thoughts

There have been certain instances throughout the first five chapters of this book where I have thought that Domhoff was right on. In fact, it seems to me that many times he is not card-stacking. Domhoff presents the issues he is going to address, as well as the argument for the opposing view, and continues with the support for his argument. It seems, however, that throughout these first five chapters, he says one thing, then plays down the significance.

For example, let's take the chapter on ``the role of public opinion.'' He maintains throughout the chapter that public opinion does not have the routine importance that the pluralists would like to attribute to it. Then he reverses his statement with one exception: ``there are some situations in which public opinion may have an impact-particularly on issues where there is a strong social movement or social disruption.'' He then proceeds to say that the chapter is incomplete in that it doesn't consider the effect of public opinion on the electorate process. (...a pretty important point!)

For another example, let's take a look at the ``policy formation network'' chapter. On one hand Domhoff states that issue networks are rooted on the money and funding given to them by the policy network. He states that it would be ``foolhardy'' for the experts to voice opinions that are outside the boundaries set by the policy preferences expressed by corporate directors. He states that the government relies on these ``experts'' because they have little of their own on the major power issues in the U.S. He even goes on to say that the chapter provides evidence on ``another form of power exercised by the corporate community...expertise.'' However, he goes on to state that there exists some uncertainty in the relationship between the corporate rich and the government such that the power elite cannot rely solely on economic power and a near monopoly on the expertise to ensure its interests.

In the chapter entitled: ``The corporate community and the growth coalitions.'' Domhoff states [p. 63] ``the power that can be exercised by corporate leaders through their companies is considerable...'' Then a page later he states ``While such [structural] power is very great, I do not find it sufficient...especially in times of economic and political crisis.'' So these are just a few examples, but they are all question begging. He states proposition x, and then its opposite x', placing x to a lesser degree. This is all very convoluted, and I am assuming that it will all be wrapped up in the last few chapters such that these contradictions will not all seem so bad.