US Congress doesn't represent people but corporate interests: Analyst

The United States Congress does not represent the people but those corporate interests that keep them in power, according to Myles Hoenig, an American political analyst and activist.

Hoenig, a former Green Party candidate for Congress, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday while commenting on a poll which has revealed that a majority of Americans, regardless of party allegiance, disapprove of Congress.

The new poll, published by the Associated Press-NORC Center on Monday, revealed that a total of 85 percent of Americans believe the Congress’s job is below average.

It also found that the number of Democrats that held an unfavorable view of Congress, 89 percent, is only seven percentage points higher than that of Republicans, at 82 percent.

“A recent study by Princeton and Northwestern has shown that Congress only cares about what one thinks on a topic if it is coming from the economic elite. As it does happen that the rest of us may have a similar opinion as the 1%, it is still the 1% that dictates public policy. Regardless of whether most Americans know of this study, we instinctively know that Congress does not listen to us and that is why 85% are unhappy with Congress,” Hoenig said.

“We see so many issues today that a majority of Americans support but Congress refuses to act on them or takes opposing sides. With the issue of gun control laws, clearly a majority support a ban on assault rifles. Most state houses that are debating this issue won’t go beyond raising the age to purchase one. Congress has many owners. On this issue, the Republicans are controlled by the NRA and tow their line, almost to the letter. The likelihood of substantial gun legislation happening today is improbable,” he added.

“The vast majority, even of Republicans, support Medicare for All, (Single Payer), but in this case, it is the Democrats who are owned by the health insurance industry. The Republicans oppose it more on philosophical grounds, but for the Democrats it’s a bread and butter issue for their funders and have, especially as a Party, refused to push for it. The public just hasn’t yet put it all together, that the two parties are not only corrupt and bought by corporate interests but that actual policy is made regardless of public sentiment,” he stated.

“The other obvious example is the recent tax plan. We all know that it was written by and for the very wealthy and with little regard for working class Americans, who will likely suffer for it,” the analyst said.  

“The same study declared that we are an oligarchy. It has been like this for decades but with child poverty, life expectancy and all other standards of life decreasing over these past several years, more and more Americans are waking up to the fact that Congress does not serve us, but their corporate interests,”  he concluded.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir