NEW YORK -- When it comes to power and influence in Washington, D.C., 88% of Americans say political action committees have too much. And, 86% of Americans think big companies are too powerful as well.
Fully 85% of U.S. adults believe political lobbyists have too much power and influence inside the Beltway, followed by banks and financial institutions (81%) and the news media (73%), according to a new Harris poll.
Two-thirds of Americans say entertainment and sports celebrities have too much power and influence, and 65% say that's true of television and radio talk shows. Next on the list are trial lawyers (62%), trade associations (57%) and labor unions (56%).
At the other end of the spectrum, 90% say that small business has too little power and influence, while 78% say the same about public opinion and 64% believe this about nonprofit organizations. Some 56% think racial minorities have too little power.
Two things fall in the middle, with 48% citing churches and religious groups and 47% naming opinion polls as having too little power and influence. On the flip side, about 40% say churches and religious groups and opinion polls have too much.
Some of the largest changes since last year are:
Surprisingly, there are actually some issues where, even in this election year, Republicans, Democrats and Independents tend to agree. Over four in five of all three groups believe that PACs (91%, 85% and 91%, respectively), big companies (86%, 84%, and 87%, respectively), and political lobbyists (91%, 81%, and 87%, respectively) have too much power and influence in Washington, and around four in five think the same about banks and financial institutions (79%, 83%, 84%, respectively). Less than one in 10 of all three parties think small business has too much power and influence in D.C. (6%, 4%, and 3%, respectively).
However, there are also some large differences. Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to believe that labor unions have too much power (79% versus 35%). They are also more likely to think that racial minorities (47% versus 19%), trial lawyers (75% versus 49%), non-profit organizations (33% versus 14%), and entertainment and sports celebrities (79% versus 61%) have too much power. Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely than Republicans to think churches and religious organizations (49% versus 25%) have too much power.
The perception of business in this country is one that has always been split. For years, big business has been at or near the top of this list, being perceived as wielding too much power, while small business, seen as having too little, has sat at the bottom of the list, poll analysts said. This is why the issue of large Wall Street bonuses and tax breaks for big companies will never sit well with Americans and why railing against big business is an effective campaign tactic for politicians. The other rallying cry will be heard against PACs and lobbyists -- two groups that are always seen with derision outside of the Beltway. And, in this election year, the rise of the super-PAC makes this an even easier group for both sides to campaign against.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.