Wealth Concentration, Racial Subordination, and Political Corruption
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
6-2017
Editor(s)
Jack Knight & Melissa Schwartzberg
ISBN
9781479849291
Publisher
NYU Press
Language
en-US
Abstract
Jeffrey Winters writes that “Wealth concentration is the single most enduring economic pattern across all polities from Mesopotamia to the present— interrupted only rarely and for brief intervals.” His important chapter centers on “wealth defense,” which refers to measures taken, mainly by or for the most wealthy, to maintain their exceptional wealth. As Winters’ view of American public policy appears sound to me, I propose to abdicate the role of philosophical critic and instead explore further applications of his wealth defense thesis in American history. If my comments seem at any point to disagree with Professor Winters, I think they may be regarded as friendly amendments. I focus on slavery, labor unions, and the corrupting role of wealth in democratic politics.
Recommended Citation
David B. Lyons,
Wealth Concentration, Racial Subordination, and Political Corruption
,
in
Wealth: NOMOS LVIII
226
(Jack Knight & Melissa Schwartzberg ed.,
2017).
Available at:
https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9781479827008.003.0006
