This power that the haves hold in American society allow them to control the have-nots and maintain the status quo. One study found that the high amount of influence that wealthy upper class individuals have in campaign financing influences the policies and decisions of elected officials. The researcher this study in addresses this by stating, "the more money in a state’s electoral system, the more likely it is that wealthier interests will dominate, and policies that benefit low-income citizens (such as public assistance spending) will receive comparatively less attention from policymakers," (Flavin, 79). It is due to the influence of money in politics that policies such as voting laws are put in place, because they increase the power of the wealthy while decreasing the influence of the only advantage the lower and middle class has, which is greater …show more content…
This concept was illustrated by Saul Alinsky in his book, Rules for Radicals, in his statement that, "The Haves posses and in turn are possessed by power. Obsessed with the fear of losing power, their every move is dictated by the idea of keeping it. The way of life of the Haves is to keep what they have and wherever possible to shore up their defenses,"